Mainstreaming youth rights in the UN human rights mechanisms

Young people make up almost one-third of the world’s population. Yet their rights and freedoms are currently not explicitly recognised under international human rights law.

This paper analyses the extent in which young people’s rights are accounted for under three of the UN’s human rights mechanisms: the Universal Periodic Review, the UN Treaty Bodies, and the UN Special Procedures.

We put forward our recommendations to make sure that the rights of young people are better accounted for, and that youth organisations can meaningfully participate in these processes, so that all young people around the world can live a free and dignified life.