As part of on-going activities for the forthcoming UN World Youth Report 2013, the UN Focal Point on Youth is organizing a Google+ Hangout on 6 March at 11:00 am EST on the UN Google+ Account. Under the overarching theme “Youth migration and development: towards sustainable solutions”, the event will feature key experts on youth migration and development.

The web-based event will offer an opportunity for youth, the UN and Member States to discuss the issue of youth migration and development. Youth will also have the opportunity to ask questions related to strategies for enhancing the development potential of youth migration while mitigating associated risk in the migration process (i.e. pre-departure/departure, in-transit, arrival, post arrival, return or no return).

It also aims to explore the nexus between youth migration and key issues such as access to basic social services, social integration, remittances, migrant rights, the post-2015 development agenda and environmental change.

“The phenomenon of migration has profound impact on young people as well as origin, transit and destination countries. We need to work together to enhance the development potential of youth migration while mitigating its risk. I encourage young people and other relevant stakeholders to participate and submit questions for the panellists to answer live in this upcoming Google+ Hangout,” said Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.

Panellists for this Google+ Hangout include: Bela Hovy, Chief of the Migration Section of DESA’s Population Division; Jo Rispoli, Regional Specialist on Labour Migration/Migration and Development (East and Southern Africa), IOM Regional Office, Pretoria; Daniel Pettersson, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations; Lonneke van Zundert, Youth representative and Dynka Amorim, young immigrant activist and founder of Bué Fixe Magazine.

The Google+ Hangout will also feature a 20-minute live Q&A session with the panelists. Tweet your questions for panelists to @UN4Youth using #youthmigration, post your questions on the UNyouthyear Facebook page or submit your questions on the UN World Youth Report web platform.

This particular Google+ Hangout is aimed at young people (15-35 years of age), as well as members of Permanent Missions, UN staff, the private sector, academia and civil society organizations, interested and working in the field of youth migration and development.

For further information on the UN World Youth Report Google+ Hangout, please visit: www.unworldyouthreport.org or email the UN Focal Point on Youth at youth@un.org with the subject line: Youth Migration Google+ Hangout.