Guide to the Implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth

Recommendations and ideas for concrete action for policies and programmes that address the everyday realities and challenges of youth The General Assembly has called on governments to base initiatives regarding youth on the agreed international strategy—the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). This Guide focuses on what governments, at every level, can do to fulfill the vision enshrined in the WPAY and acknowledges a need for new impetus to be given to the design and implementation of youth policies and programmes. This Guide organizes the 15 priority areas of the WPAY into three clusters that reflect the challenges youth encounter across borders and cultures: Youth in the Global Economy, Youth and Their Well-Being, and Youth in Civil Society. It is important to note that the sections of the World Programme of Action for Youth are interrelated and are dependent on each other. While there are many publications that provide a deeper understanding of the lives of youth, this Guide provides recommendations and ideas for concrete action for the people who make and carry out policies and programmes that affect the everyday realities and struggles of youth. Each section moves from briefly examining the concept of each priority area and how it is experienced by youth to mechanisms and specific policies that may enhance their political, cultural and socio-economic opportunities, enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and their overall quality of life. For each priority area of the WPAY, policies and programmes are framed as detailed responses to the most relevant “how to” questions; this format was chosen because it would have the most practical resonance with policy makers. Readers should note that the ideas and recommendations contained in this Guide are not to be interpreted as fit for all countries, all youth, or all situations. Local circumstances should always be taken into account. The target audience of this action Guide is: government ministries, parliamentarians, agencies that serve youth, and local and regional governments. In addressing this audience, it also refers to the role of the main stakeholders, such as civil society, the media, the private sector, parents, the international community and, of course, youth themselves, and therefore underscores the need for partnerships to carry out the projects and programmes presented herein so that the WPAY is more than a global statement of intent and a standard for action.