UN YOUTH FLASH
Vol. 5, No. 7, September/October 2008

WELCOME to the UN Youth Flash, a service of the United Nations Programme on Youth to keep you informed about the work of the UN on youth issues. This youth update is prepared by the UN Programme on Youth with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes.
UN Youth Flash can also be read on-line at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/flash.htm.

In this issue:

FEATURE: Reconnecting with youth on the streets: A rights-based approach

In an increasingly urbanized world, youth who live, work, or spend much of their time on the streets, are of growing concern to Governments. Branded as antisocial, violent or delinquent, these “street youth” are perceived as a threat to public security and rarely receive any policy attention.

“Street youth” are not a clearly identifiable or homogeneous population.  The category is a socially constructed one, best understood as a label used to describe young people for whom the street plays a central role during this period of their lives – usually as a place to live or work.  Their individual characteristics, circumstances, perceptions and careers are, however, extremely diverse. Natural disasters, family crises, wars, drug addiction, economic recessions, abuse, and thriving informal economies are all among the reasons causing girls and boys, young men and young women to look for ways to survive, forge relationships or get ahead on the streets.  Few “street youth” spend all, or even most, of their time in public spaces; some are often with their families and friends, at home, in institutions or with other social groups outside the public gaze.  Some have lived on the streets from an early age; others begin working on the streets only in their late teens. Their street existence is only part of their identities – they neither belong to the street, nor are they defined by it. They are first and foremost young people whose lives include a transitory and partial occupancy of urban public spaces. 
 
The term “street youth” is, however, useful for advocacy and policy-making because it successfully draws attention to a group of young people who, despite their visibility, have limited access to basic services, such as education, healthcare and housing, and are outside the formal labour market.  At the same time, they are exposed to types and levels of violence in public spaces which profoundly shape their behaviours and their views of mainstream society.  Dependency of young people on urban streets reflects failures at the levels of family, community and Government to protect them from harm and prepare them for adult life within society. 

In dealing with “street youth”, society may often criminalize them or treat them as welfare recipients. A rights-based approach, however, focuses on reconnecting youth on the streets with their human rights, with a strong emphasis on encouraging their participation in the process. This approach addresses young people’s multi-faceted challenges and considers their capabilities and aspirations. It may also require substantial investment in social protection, including affordable housing, child and unemployment benefits, as well as basic services, such as adult education and job training.  Individual youth on the streets are likely to respond best to integrated interventions and services that would enable them to negotiate their way from persistent exclusion to inclusion in mainstream society. 

Policy makers need to understand that youth on the streets have complex identities.  For effective policymaking, thoughtful reflection is needed on: the interconnectedness of all aspects of young people’s lives; the nature of young people’s street experiences; and the positive implications for both young people and society of including “street youth” in mainstream opportunities. Interventions for “street youth” must address causes and effects of street dependency, involving youth themselves in intervention design and evaluation.

Prevention policies and interventions which support youth on the streets require considerable investment of financial and human resources.  The costs to young people and society of not working to include “street youth” in mainstream society are, however, undoubtedly much higher.  Careful investment now in excluded young people will help create a more inclusive, secure and productive society.
 
[Note: The text of this feature is drawn from a forthcoming Briefing Note prepared by Dr. Sarah Thomas de Benítez (Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion) and Dr. Gareth A. Jones (Geography and Environment) at the London School of Economics and Political Science, under the auspices of the UK Economic and Social Research Council’s Identities and Social Action Programme, in cooperation with the UN Programme on Youth.  The full text of this document is forthcoming at www.un.org/youth]

NEWS FROM UN OFFICES

ESCWA: Regional survey to help promote national youth policies
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) will conduct a regional survey on monitoring the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) during the fourth quarter of 2008.  The aim of this survey is to identify, assess and analyze the general, technical, institutional and circumstantial challenges faced by member countries in their efforts to formulate national youth policies.  The survey will also provide an evidence-based assessment that would pave the way for conducting capacity-building workshops aimed at training focal points in member countries on the formulation and monitoring of national youth policies.  For more information, please email shakoori@un.org.

FAO - Youth Climate Change Web page
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has created a new Climate Change Web Portal which includes a section dedicated to Children and Youth. Information on current activities, resources and other initiatives can be accessed, including information on the International Drawing Competition "Our World, Our Climate, Our Food", a joint initiative of FAO and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) that was launched to raise awareness on climate change and food security issues, as well as promote active involvement of children and youth. More information: http://www.fao.org/climatechange/51175/en/.

GAID: Global Innovation Forum for Education
The Forum provided a platform for several hundred young people from across the globe to discuss new and innovative ICT initiatives that help local communities make progress towards achieving the MDGs. The Forum took place from 21-24 October in Yerevan, Armenia and was co-organized by UNDESA-GAID (the Global Alliance for ICT and Development), the UN-e-Leaders for ICT and Youth, and Athgo International, along with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. It reviewed the basic tools that facilitate the creation of innovative solutions, particularly, systematic and quality educational opportunities. It also examined the impact of access, connectivity and relevant local content linked with educational and analytical needs. http://www.un-gaid.org/en/node/2415.

ILO:  New tool on youth employment for employers
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the International Organisation of Employers have just released their newest tool: “Youth Employment: Making It Happen - An electronic resource tool for employers”. Youth Employment is a key priority for the international community, raised in the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY 1995) and strengthened by the 2005 resolution of the International Labour Conference of the. The new tool provides an overview of youth employment challenges and the role of the private sector in promoting access of young people to work as well as a compendium of useful resources. Most importantly, it compiles practices of the private sector in youth employment promotion. Forty cases have been systematically organized by country and topic (policy making and advocacy, skills development and training and self-employment and entrepreneurship). More information: http://ww.ilo.org/youthmakingithappen/.

UN-DPI: Global Model UN Conference
The UN Department of Public Information will be organizing the first annual Global Model UN Conference in Geneva, Switzerland from 5-7 August 2009. The event will bring together the best university-level students from Model UN programmes currently organized around the world.  The theme for the first conference will be “The Millennium Developments Goals -- Lifting the bottom billion out of poverty”. The annual student conference aims to serve as a model of best practices for Model UN conferences.  It will involve youth in all aspects of the planning process and encourage the organization of new Model UN programmes where they do not exist.  Furthermore, it is expected that the Global Model UN will inspire the next generation of leaders to get involved in national and global issues. More information: http://www.un.org/gmun.

UN-DPI: 11th Annual Student Conference on Human Rights
The UN Department of Public Information is organizing its 11th Annual Student Conference on Human Rights from 3-5 December 2008.  The theme this year will focus on climate change and human rights -- two key priority areas of the United Nations.  Students from North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia will work together to develop a Plan of Action that will be presented to the UN at the conclusion of the conference. For more information contact Yvonne Acosta, Chief of Education Outreach (acostay@un.org) or Bill Yotive (yotive @un.org).

UNESCO: 5-year Action Plan for Youth Empowerment in Africa
As a follow-up to the recommendations adopted at the 1st UNESCO African Youth Forum (September 2007, Burkina Faso), UNESCO is finalising a 5-year Action Plan for Youth Empowerment in Africa through consultations with Member States, youth organisations and regional partners. Activities will focus on three thematic areas: youth participation in the development of youth policies and programs; regional integration and dialogue; socio-professional integration (technical and vocational education and entrepreneurialism). Aiming at making this Plan a multilateral effort, UNESCO is seeking institutional, technical and financial partnerships with a wide range of development and regional actors and with youth organisations and networks. More information: ucj@unesco.org.

UNESCO: Regional meeting on youth networks and policies
UNESCO’s Section for Youth, Sport and Physical Education recently concluded a Regional Meeting on “Youth Networks and Policies” held from 15 to 19 October as a follow-up to the 1st Americas Youth Forum. This meeting was held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during the International Conference of the Americas (CILA 2008). Besides launching the Americas Youth Network, the meeting discussed regional efforts on youth issues, capacity-building, youth policies, youth networks and communication for development. More information: ucj@unesco.org

UNESCO: Using cultural resources to involve youth in HIV prevention
Organized by the UNESCO Moscow Office, a new project entitled “Mobilizing cultural resources for HIV and AIDS education” will soon begin in Belarus and involve young people ages 14-18. The main purpose of the project is to implement a new “Forum Theatre” into HIV/AIDS prevention activities. The process of the theatre is based on the active participation of young people in creating theatre scenarios and conducting performances in educational institutions. The activities are a follow up of the UNESCO’s “Contemporary Art in Response to HIV and AIDS” project where young people participated in discussions, performances and competitions. Details of the project will be published as a methodological manual that can be used in HIV and AIDS preventive education. For more information please see: http:// www.artsandaids.ru; http://www.unesco.ru/eng/articles/2004/y.podol29082008112417.php;
http://www.unesco.ru/eng/articles/2004/y.podol19082008110229.php.

UNESCO: Interactive course on HIV/AIDS for educators
This interactive, e-learning course aims to help educators develop a broad base of knowledge of HIV/AIDS, either for teaching purposes or for the coordination of related programmes. It covers scientific, social, behavioural, and health-related aspects of HIV/AIDS. The course is primarily geared toward people who are involved in educating young people in formal and informal settings – school teachers, school directors, education managers, peer educators or community trainers. More information:  http://www.unescobkk.org/hiv-aids/e-course.

UNESCO: Masterpieces in the Land of Olonkho Festival
Within the IV International Sports Games “The Children of Asia”, the first Festival of the Intangible Heritage “Meeting the UNESCO Masterpieces in the Land of Olonkho” took place from 4-12 July 2008 in Yakutsk, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the Russian Federation. Among the performances carried out during the Festival were those proclaimed by UNESCO to be the masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, including: The Armenian Duduk and its Music (Armenia); The Azerbaijani Mugham (Azerbaijan); The Kun Qu Opera (China);  Nogaku Theatre (Japan); The Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers (Kyrgyzstan); The Traditional Music of the Morin Khuur; The Urtiin Duu - Traditional Folk Long Song  (Mongolia);  The Pansori Epic Chant (Republic of Korea); The Cultural Space and Oral Culture of the Semeiskie; The Olonkho, Yakut Heroic Epos (Russian Federation); and The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony (Turkey). UNESCO’s Moscow Office is planning the release of a booklet that provides background and details of the Festival along with a DVD. More information: http://www.gamesasia2008.ru/index.htm.

UNICEF: Supports award for children promoting children’s rights
UNICEF is supporting the presentation of the 2008 Alexander Bodini Charitable Foundation Children's Awards, which will honour two child-led organizations that have successfully and meaningfully contributed to creating A World Fit for Children. The awards will include a financial grant for two finalists and be presented at a New York City event to be held in February 2009. The Minister for Foreign and Political Affairs and Economic Planning of the Republic of San Marino (with functions of Prime Minister) will be attending. In providing these awards, the Foundation seeks to promote them as role models for other children and young people around the world. The deadline for submissions of nominations is 17 November. The final selection and announcement of the awards will be on 1 December. More information: http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_4285.html

UNESCO: Sharing best practices in youth policies and programmes
Aware of the need to consolidate and reinforce the role of young people as agents of the positive transformation of their societies, UNESCO along with other United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organization, as well as the academic sector are working together to identify, disseminate and share successful youth policies and programmes - with and for young people - in Latin America and the Caribbean. The selected policies and programmes will be presented and discussed during a Regional Meeting (Colima, Mexico, April 2009) where they will also receive official recognition. Subsequently, these practices will be published in a book and a technical guide, which will pay close attention to their implementation and transfer. A website and a call for proposals will be launched at the end of November (practices will have to be submitted online) for initiatives in the following fields: Education; Youth participation and leadership; Sexual and reproductive health; Prevention of youth violence; Volunteer work and free time and spaces; Employment; Poverty reduction; Integral youth development. For more information, please contact Berenice Alcalde, b.alcalde@unesco.org.

UNHABITAT: World Urban Youth Forum
The World Urban Youth Forum (WUYF) will be held from 31 October to 2 November 2008 prior to the Fourth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF4) which will take place in Nanjing, China from 3-6 November 2008. At WUF4 young people will be a part of all the discussions on harmonious urbanization and measures to deal with growing poverty in cities, rapid urbanization, unemployment, natural disasters and climate change. For more information, as well as supporting documentation and a programme of events, please contact the WUYF Coordinator, Ms. Mutinta Munyati at mutinta.munyati@unhabitat.org and visit
http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=535&cid=5581.

UNHABITAT: Launching the Opportunities Fund for Youth Led Development
The Fund was officially established at the UN-HABITAT Governing Council in Nairobi in 2007 with the aim of promoting leadership and participation of young women and men in achieving sustainable urbanization in the rapidly expanding cities and towns of the world. The Fund will be launched at WUF4 next month and will bridge the gap between policy and practice by funding model youth-led projects, which will both demonstrate the global community’s commitment to youth. It will also provide key best practices, which will advance both research and policy that can be used by all levels of Government, CSOs and the private sector. More information: http://www.unhabitat.org/wuf.

UNHABITAT: New training school on building better homes
Sponsored by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, with financial support from Norway and Finland, a new school is now teaching young people from the most deprived neighbourhoods in Nairobi how to build better homes. The Moonbeam Youth Training Centre grew from a $100,000 donation received by the Secretary-General from the Pony Chung Scholarship Foundation of South Korea and an additional $1 million and $135,000 from the Governments of Norway and Finland, respectively. The Centre will conduct youth training activities for Kenya and the entire Eastern African region. More information: http://ww.unhabitat.org.

WHO: Improving health services for young people in Latin America and the Caribbean
A training course on quality health services for adolescents and youth in Latin America and the Caribbean was organized by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO's Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development in conjunction with the Ministry of Health of Brazil. Hosted by Pedro Ernesto University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro in August this year, the course brought together PAHO Country Office staff and officials responsible for adolescent health within Ministries of Health from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru and Uruguay. Along with a range of participatory activities, the course reviewed the situation of adolescent health in participating countries, health service provision, national quality standards and their application. More information: http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health.

YOUTH IN ACTION

Youth delegates at the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly
Twenty nine youth delegates from 15 countries participated in this year’s session of the General Assembly. Many youth delegates had the opportunity to deliver statements to the Third Committee discussing youth issues. Youth delegates along with UN offices also held side-events to these meetings to further promote the UN youth agenda. More information: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/ga63.htm and http://www.unyouth.com.

FAO: Training a new generation of farmers
The Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Junior Farmer Field and Life Skills (JFFLS) programme trains children and youth to be farmers. JFFLS started in 2005 as a year-long training for school-going orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) who later develop their own gardens at home and pass on the skills to their families and communities. In Boyane Primary School, in the western part of Swaziland's administrative capital of Mbabane, twenty-six OVCs can put food on their tables through the garden where they have individual and communal plots. Agricultural development and production is a key sustainable solution to address soaring prices of food, fuel and other basic commodities around the world. FAO, in partnership with other United Nations agencies such as World Food Programme, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), along with the Government of Swaziland, are helping orphans and vulnerable children to learn agriculture and water conservation skills. More information:  http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43913

Millions stand up to take action against poverty.
Nearly two percent of the world's population stood up from 17-19 October, breaking last year's Guinness World Record of 43 million participants in the Stand Up Against Poverty campaign. Organizers announced that more than 116 million people in 131 countries participated in 2008. people gathered at a huge variety of events across the globe to tell world leaders that the financial crisis is not an excuse for breaking the promises they made at the Millennium Summit in the year 2000 to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  More information: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org.

Giving the youth voice in Australia a boost
The Australian Youth Forum (AYF) was formally launched at the Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre in Adelaide on 2 October by the Australian Minister for Youth. The launch signifies a new chapter in the dialogue between the Government and the young people of Australia. The establishment of the AYF shows this Government places significant value on the voices and views of young Australians, their creativity, unique perspectives and capacity to contribute to public debate. More information: http://www.youth.gov.au/ayf.

Students mark the International Day of Peace in Vienna
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace (21 September), the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna and the City of Vienna jointly organized the Student Forum "Uniting for Peace” in Vienna. The Forum offered a platform for young people from Belgrade, Ljubljana, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Skopje, and Zagreb to come together on “neutral” territory to discuss questions of common concern, revisit the past and look towards a peaceful future.  Under the heading "Uniting for Peace" sixty students from Southeast European capital cities shared experiences, discussed and debated issues of intercultural understanding and cross-border dialogue. The four programme-packed days included a colourful youth peace festival in the Vienna Museumsquarter, lectures about the United Nations, peacekeeping and peacebuilding measures, career prospects, as well as hands-on workshops at the Diplomatic Academy Vienna and the MODUL University on Kahlenberg Hill. More information: http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/event/2008/peaceday2008.html.

UNESCO: Empowering island youth
Are you from an island? UNESCO's Youth Visioning for Island Living (YV) is a capacity-building initiative that empowers young people living in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be able to implement their own sustainable development ideas in their communities. Since 2005, YV has funded 35 youth-led projects (ranging from $US2000-US$4000 each), on islands around the world under the concept of "by youth for youth". In these projects, young people were responsible for the design, implementation and reporting along with the assistance of their youth organisation. Beginning this month (October 2008), YV will launch a call for proposals to begin a new phase of HIV/AIDS projects. For more information, please contact Michael Tran, m.tran@unesco.org or visit www.youthvisioning.org.

Youth Programme in Namibia promotes youth contribution to their societies
The Masupatsela Youth Pioneer Programme launched by the Namibian Government aims to help young people develop into agents of change by giving them the tools to conduct community service. The pilot initiative is expected to promote social cohesion, a culture of activism and patriotism among youth. More information: http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/08/08091811151001

TakingITGlobal: Making it happen
Have an idea to change the world? Looking to develop your project management skills and network with other youth leaders? Make It Happen is an online course offered by TakingITGlobal that provides an innovative and collaborative approach to helping young people (ages 16-30) build their capacities as agents of change. From October 2008 to January 2009, participants will learn to develop, implement, and evaluate successful social and environmental projects. For more information and to apply, please visit: http://www.tigblog.org/group/makeithappen.

Financial grants to support youth projects
The Walt Disney Company and Youth Service America are making available financial grants of up to $500 per project to support child-led service projects. These grants support children (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, if they engage younger children in planning and implementing the project. Applicants are encouraged to select projects that address environmental issues and empower children as young citizens. Applications are welcome from all countries. For more information, please email MinnieGrant@ysa.org. The deadline for applications is 30 October 2008. Application materials and information on other youth grants are available at http://www.YSA.org/awards.

PUBLICATIONS

ECLAC: Youth and Social Cohesion in Iberoamerica
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is issuing a major document on youth within the framework of the Iberoamerican Summit of Presidents and Heads of State to be held in San Salvador at the end of this month (October 2008).  Entitled "Youth and Social Cohesion in Iberoamerica", this publication will be available in Spanish and Portuguese, the official languages of the Summit.  Summaries will be published in English, Spanish and Portuguese.  The document presents a detailed profile of the situation of Iberoamerican youth in the areas of population trends, health, education, employment, violence, adolescent maternity, connectivity, migration, participation and new forms of collective identity, and concludes with a policy-oriented chapter.  The document is the outcome of a cooperative effort in partnership with the Organización Iberoamericana de Juventud and the Secretaría General Iberoamericana. More information: http://www.eclac.org/dds.

ILO: Global Employment Trends for Youth 2008
An intensified focus on youth at the international level in recent years has brought a greater understanding of youth labour markets and has led to the development of a growing number of national action plans for youth employment, as well as other more specific youth-related policies and programmes at the national level. But has the increased global awareness of the vulnerabilities of youth brought about any quantifiable changes in their labour market situation? Are more young people attaining their desired job? The ILO's third edition of the Global Employment Trends for Youth examines the most recent labour market indicators and finds that young people still suffer disproportionately from a deficit of decent work opportunities. However, progress has been seen in some regions. The report, which updates the world and regional youth labour market indicators presented in previous reports (2004 and 2006), is organized according to nine regional analyses. From 28 October, English, French and Spanish versions will available for download at http://www.ilo.org/trends

UNEP/UNESCO: Young Consumers’ Guide to Eco-Friendly Living
The YouthXchange Training Kit aims to promote sustainable consumption patterns among young consumers worldwide. This updated version of the popular guide also gets to grips with the mountains of waste emerging across the globe as a result of today’s fast “throw-away” society. The guide includes a chapter that will show young people a way to find a balance between their consumer aspirations of dressing cool and fashionable while at the same time being aware of the impact of their consumption on, for example, climate change.  More information: http://www.youthxchange.net/main/download_guide.asp

UNICEF: Responding to child trafficking in South Asia
The report “South Asia in Action: Preventing and responding to child trafficking” finds that laws need to be strengthened to protect children from being trafficked, as well as after they have been trafficked. The report recognizes that although some Governments in South Asia have developed national plans of action and adopted laws that criminalize trafficking in human beings, much more needs to be done. The legal framework needs to be strengthened to protect children from all forms of trafficking, as well as legal and psychosocial support for child victims. Child trafficking across the region is not only committed by organized criminal networks, but may also involve friends, relatives and even parents of children. The report “South Asia in Action: Preventing and responding to child trafficking” was launched at the South Asia Forum Regional Preparatory Consultation for the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. The Congress will be held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2008 and presents a unique opportunity to reinforce the commitments made by Governments in South Asia to ensure protection of children from trafficking and sexual exploitation. Download the publication at http://documentacion.unicef.es/doc_download.php?iddocumento=66&descarga=1.

UNODC/UNICEF: Guidelines to help young victims and witnesses of crime
A child-friendly version of the “UN Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime” has been published by the UN Office for Drugs and Crime along with UNICEF. It has been prepared for children aged 7-17 who have been victims or witnesses of crime, and describes their rights during the justice process in a child-friendly manner. UNODC and UNICEF are also working on training professionals working with child victims and witnesses through interactive web-based training modules that will be ready by the end of 2008. The International Institute for the Rights of the Child, in cooperation with UNICEF, UNODC and the International Bureau for Children's Rights recently organized a seminar to bring clarity on the issue from a child rights perspective and highlight good practices, as well as to agree on joint action (http://www.childsrights.org). The seminar is a preparatory meeting leading to the Third World Congress on Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents that will take place in Brazil in November 2008. To download a copy of the publication, please visit http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/Guidelines_E.pdf.

United Nations: Guidelines on improving juvenile justice
The document entitled “Guidance Note of the Secretary General - UN Approach to Justice for Children” was published by the United Nations in September 2008. The Note provides guiding principles and a framework for UN activities on justice for children at the national level within conflict and development contexts. It also aims to ensure that children, defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child as all persons under the age of eighteen, are better served and protected by justice systems, including the security and social welfare sectors. More information: http://www.juvenilejusticepanel.org/resources/?act=res&cat=&nod=_root_&id=UNGuidanceNoteSGUNApproachJChildren08&start=1.

WHO: Fact File on Adolescent Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a new “Fact File on Adolescent Health” that explores topics of concern to adolescents and provides strategies to improve their health across the globe. The feature explains that adolescents have specific health and development needs, and that many face challenges that hinder their well-being, including poverty, a lack of access to health information and services, and unsafe environments. It shows how necessary interventions can save lives and foster a new generation of productive adults who better serve their communities. More information: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/adolescent_health/en/index.html.
 
WHO: Strengthening the health sector response to young people living with HIV
The World Health Organization’s Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development launched a new advocacy document entitled "More Positive Living: Strengthening the health sector response to young people living with HIV" at the Mexico International AIDS Conference in August 2008. The document is based on the outcome of a joint WHO/UNICEF global consultation involving service providers and young people living with HIV from 18 countries. The publication highlights the challenges facing the estimated 5.4 million young people currently living with HIV, and an unknown number in the 10-14 year age group who are entering adolescence following neonatal infection and receiving effective paediatric treatment. The publication provides recommendations for the health sector, including the need to train service providers to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people living with HIV, and to involve them in the provision of services. The document can be downloaded at: http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents/9789241597098/en/index.html.

World Bank: Supporting Youth at Risk
A new policy toolkit for Middle Income Countries has been produced by the World Bank in response to a growing demand from Governments and partners for advice on how to create and implement effective policies for at-risk youth.  The Toolkit highlights 22 policies (six core policies, nine promising policies, and seven general policies) that have been effective in addressing five key risk areas for young people around the world, namely: Youth unemployment, underemployment, and lack of formal sector employment; Early school leaving; Risky sexual behaviour leading to early childbearing and HIV/AIDS; Crime and violence; and Substance abuse. The objective of this Toolkit is to serve as a practical guide for policy makers in middle-income countries, as well as professionals working within the area of youth development to develop and implement an effective policy portfolio that will foster healthy and positive youth development. More information:  http://go.worldbank.org/U26H7QN200.

CALENDAR OF YOUTH EVENTS

31 October - 2 November 2008: World Urban Youth Forum
See above.

1 November: African Youth Day
The theme for African Youth Day 2008 and the Year of African Youth 2008 is "African Youth for Peace and Development”. On 2 July 2006, at a meeting in The Gambia, African Heads of States adopted the African Youth Charter and endorsed recommendations to celebrate 1st November of each year as African Youth Day and the year 2008 as the Year of African Youth.  More information: http://www.africa-union.org

12-18 November: People to People International’s Global Youth Forum
Young achievers ages 13 - 18 from around the world can explore various perspectives and skills while also experiencing diverse people and cultures. This conference brings together a variety of dynamic speakers, interactive workshops and rewarding activities highlight this unique youth conference, which is devoted to international understanding, education, leadership and humanitarianism. More information: http://www.ptpi.org/programs/GYF.aspx

19-22 November: 8th IANYS Global Conference on National Youth Service
The International Association for National Youth Service (IANYS) Conference will be held at the Fondation des Etats-Unis in Paris, France. Conference registration is now available online at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=160766 and is open to practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and young people working in the field of national youth service and youth development. More information: http://www.icicp.org/ianys.

3-5 December: 11th Annual Student Conference on Human Rights
(See UNDPI above)

5 December: International Volunteer Day
IVD offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Over the years, rallies, parades, community volunteering projects, environmental awareness, free medical care and advocacy campaigns have all featured prominently on IVD. You may also upload videos on IVD 2008 YouTube group. More information: http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/int-l-volunteer-day.html.

4 – 9 January 2009: 17th International Youth Leadership Conference
An NGO organized event, the theme of this year's conference is centred on a cross-cultural exchange of ideas concerning the future of world leadership. Civic Concepts International and the International Youth Leadership Conference, which is now in its eighth year, will organize activities such as debates and panel discussions on international security, environmental sustainability, rule of law, responsible leadership and mass media, as well as a Model UN simulation of a UN Security Council meeting, an International Criminal Court mock pre-trial and Model European Parliament proceedings. More information: http://www.CzechLeadership.com.

20 February - 1 March 2009:  ISFiT 2009
ISFit, the 10th International Student Festival in Trondheim, Norway, will be a festival filled with meetings, debates, concerts, ceremonies and a wide cultural programme. About 450 students from all around the world will get together to discuss issues around the theme of Peacebuilding. To support students in the struggle for peace, democracy and human rights, send in nominations for The Student Peace Prize! More information: http://www.isfit.org.

5-10 May 2009: World Creative Youth Forum (WCYF) 2009
The theme of the Forum is "Education for Sustainable Development" and will focus on Peace and Human Rights, Climate Change, Sustainable Lifestyle, Entrepreneurship, Education and Technology, and Advocacy for Sustainable Development. More information: www.worldcreativeyouthforum.net.

9-14 June 2009: Global Youth Forum in Mongolia
The Forum aims to encourage dialogue among young people to develop mutual understanding and cooperation in addressing global problems. The event is being organized by OYUNLAL-UILS, a non-governmental and non-profit organization working to promote youth development in Mongolia. Issues covered at the Forum will include environmental protection & climate change, poverty, decent work and unemployment, public health policy and HIV/AIDS, and gender equality. More information: http://www.oyunlaguils.mn/index.php?ID=7.

5-7 August 2009:  Global Model UN Conference
(See UNDPI above)

CONTACT INFORMATION
 
Mailing address: UN Programme on Youth, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, 2 UN Plaza, DC2-1306, New York, NY 10017.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the UN Youth Flash, please visit:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/flash.htm.

For more information, please visit: http://www.un.org/youth or email us at youth@un.org.