UN Youth Delegates

The UN Youth Delegates programme gives young people the right to participate in the UN General Assembly, Commission for Social Development, High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Economic & Social Council. Youth Delegates also have increased access as part of the post-2015 negotiations. Youth delegates are the voice of young people and can play an unprecedented role in influencing a country’s official position and can be instrumental in supporting and developing an approach to the negotiations that places the interests of youth as a built in part of their government’s discussions. The purpose of the following Guide is to provide Member States with information on national youth delegates to the United Nations and practical guidance on developing youth delegate programmes. The Guide presents the many avenues through which young people may take part in the work of their national delegations, including by highlighting how some Member States have enabled youth to participate in the intergovernmental processes at the United Nations.