UNESCO - Operational Strategy on Youth 2014-2021

Around the world, young women and men are driving change and claiming respect for fundamental freedoms and rights; improved conditions for them and their communities; opportunities to learn, work and participate in decisions that affect them. At the same time, due to persistent crises, they are faced with acute challenges affecting important aspects of their lives. More than ever, it is now time to improve investment in research, policies and programmes to create an enabling and rights-based environment where youth prosper, exercise rights, regain hope and a sense of community, and engage as responsible social actors and innovators. The 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference requested “the Director-General, in preparing draft document 37 C/4, to consider the necessity and examine the feasibility and implications of including youth as a new global priority, and determine the best modality for implementation in the next C/4 document”2. In her preliminary proposals for the UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy 2014-2021 (37C/4), the Director-General explained that she “will propose to the Executive Board at its 191st session an operational strategy” 3 on Youth. Building on the above and further to the Director-General’s consultation meeting with UNESCO Member States on 21 November 2012, the Secretariat has elaborated the present operational strategy, in a participatory manner, engaging with UNESCO sectors, bureaux and youth focal points in field offices.