19/04/2022
Youth at the United Nations
At the sixtieth General Assembly, Member States:
Welcomed the participation of youth representatives in national delegations, and urged Member States to
consider being represented by youth representatives on a continuing basis during relevant discussions in
the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, bearing in
mind the principle of gender balance. (A/RES/60/2, para. 9)
The underlying principle of youth participation in the work of the United Nations is that it leads to better
policy and programmatic responses to the problems facing young people today. Not only do youth delegates enrich the debate and policy dialogue, they strengthen existing channels of communication and cooperation between governments and young people. Youth may participate in the general work of their
Missions through attending a range of meetings, receptions, and informal negotiations and by providing
assistance in monitoring general debates and drafting reports. Very often they liaise with youth representatives from other countries to exchange information and build upon their experiences. They may be invited
to speak at various side events or panel discussions organized by their Mission, the United Nations
Secretariat, or non-governmental organizations.
Missions should provide a briefing to youth delegates before their arrival to discuss and determine their role
in the delegation. The selection process is frequently overseen by the government authority directly responsible for youth (e.g., Ministry of Education, Department of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Cultural and Social
Affairs, or equivalent) or is delegated to a National Youth Council. The name of the selected delegate is
then transmitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) and later to the country’s Permanent
Mission to the United Nations. It is also helpful to inform the United Nations Programme for Youth, so that
the youth delegate can be appropriat
