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United Nations Young Leaders Training Programme (UNITAR)
Across countries and regions, youth are contributing to climate action, innovation, community leadership, and policy advocacy. To support this engagement, UNITAR will offer an online training programme designed specifically for youth worldwide. This course introduces participants to the structure, values, and practical work of the United Nations, while developing skills relevant to global leadership. Through interactive modules, live sessions, and expert input, young people gain a clearer understanding of how international diplomacy works and how they can take part in shaping solutions to global challenges.
Human Rights in Action (WFUNA)
The Human Rights in Action program is a six-month cycle that will teach you the theory and practice of human rights and empowers you to run a project of your own in your community. First, you’ll spend a week at UN Headquarters in Geneva, learning about the human rights system and project management from our team of experts. Then you’ll develop a real-word project of your own that promotes human rights in your community or country and implement it with technical support from our head office.
Young AI Leaders community (ITU)
With guidance, mentorship, and resources, these youth-led initiatives are designed to thrive and create lasting, positive impacts. The next generation must not only inherit the technologies of tomorrow but be empowered to shape them today. Through initiatives like the Young AI Leaders Community, AI for Good ensures that young people have the skills, platforms, and support to lead the way in building a more inclusive and sustainable digital future.
IP Youth Ambassadors Program (WIPO)
In 2020, the WIPO Academy launched the IP Youth Ambassadors program where young promising creators and inventors are selected to help promote IP education among young people in their country and region.
The criteria for an IP Youth Ambassador are:
- Between 6 – 26 years of age
- Created or invented something that is recognized at the national level (possibly a winner of some national competition etc.), or has a start-up / SME and used IP to help them in the process of launching their enterprise
- Aware user of the IP system (in general – not in specific details and does not have to be of a legal background)
- Role model for other young creators and inventors.
Youth Changemakers Initiative (IOM)
The IOM Youth Changemakers Initiative engages young people from across the world who are committed to working on migration issues. The initiative aims to create a platform for young people to become effective advocates and agents of change in the field of migration. It is based on four pillars:
- Capacity Development
- Advocacy
- Peer Learning
- Support to Youth Action
Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (ODA)
The Youth Leader Fund (YLF) is an innovative learning programme aimed at equipping youth with the knowledge, skills, and network to join and lead global efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons – the most dangerous weapons on earth. The programme seeks young leaders, aged 18 to 29 years old, who are motivated to use their talents to promote change for a more peaceful and secure world.
Every two years through 2030, 100 participants are selected to receive online training in general principles of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, with a selected cohort going on a week-long in-person study tour to Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Youth4Disarmament (ODA)
Youth4Disarmament is a youth outreach initiative established in 2019 by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs to connect geographically diverse young people with experts to learn about current international security challenges, the work of the United Nations and how to actively participate.
UNICEF Youth Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Want to help change the world and stand up for children’s rights? Then you’ve come to the right place – UNICEF youth! That is our platform for young people aged 10 to 24. Here you can speak your mind, help design projects, support our media work, and much more.
At UNICEF youth we’ll keep you up to date on opportunities for getting involved with UNICEF. We keep you informed over WhatsApp. Participation is completely voluntary. You decide when, where, and how much you’d like to get involved.
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Youth Delegate Program (DESA)
"We need to make youth participation the norm, rather than the exception, across decisions, policies and investments" (UN Secretary-General António Guterres)
One form of youth participation at the United Nations is through the inclusion of youth delegates in a country’s official delegation to the United Nations General Assembly and various functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council. The roles of a youth delegate varies from country to country, but normally includes providing input to their delegation on issues related to youth and participation in their delegation’s work, such as through attending meetings and informal negotiations.
WHO Youth Council
Young people should be at the heart of decisions that impact their lives and health. WHO wants to support the engagement of young people and their participation in addressing key global health priorities.
WHO has therefore established the WHO Youth Council, that includes youth representatives of health and non-health organizations and movements. The Youth Council is a dynamic network that will amplify the voices and experiences of young people, and leverage their expertise, energy and ideas to promote public health. The Youth Council will provide advice to and actively engage with the WHO Director-General and WHO Senior Leadership. It will serve as a platform for designing and incubating new initiatives and for expanding existing youth engagement initiatives of WHO.
WHO Youth Delegate Program
Through the inclusion of youth delegates in a Member State’s official delegation, a Youth Delegate Program provides a space to young people to participate in global health governance. A national WHO Youth Delegate is a young person that is formally accredited on a Member State’s official delegation to a WHO high-level meeting.