Promoting youth rights at the UN!

From 31st October to 3rd November, the European Youth Forum organised a training and advocacy event on promoting youth rights through the United Nations (UN) human rights system in Geneva.

Bringing together representatives of ten youth organisations, the event aimed to give young people tools to access their rights and develop their capacity to fight for them. The participants met with government representatives, UN and civil society stakeholders to advocate for youth rights.

The capacity building focused on international human rights mechanisms and instruments including the Universal Periodic Review and the Special Procedures, as well as the Treaty Bodies, which are responsible for monitoring States’ implementation of international human rights treaties. (1)

The training was provided by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), the Centre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR Centre) and UPR Info, organisations with experience in supporting civil society engagement in UN human rights processes.

The Participants met with representatives of nine Permanent Missions (Austria, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, FYR Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Portugal and Romania) to raise two key messages

• The need for a greater focus on youth in existing instruments, for example through youth-specific recommendations.
• Advancing the youth rights agenda via dedicated tools and procedures specifically focused on young people.

Furthermore, participants met with a representative of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), as well as YWCA World and IIMA Human Rights Office, two Geneva-based organisations.

(1) For more information, see http://www.youthforum.org/youth-rights-info-tool/the-united-nations-and-youth-rights/