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| World Conference on Youth 1985 | |
|---|---|
| Name | World Conference on Youth 1985 |
| Date | 1–12 August 1985 |
| Venue | Palace of Culture and Sports, Athens |
| City | Athens |
| Country | Greece |
| Organiser | United Nations, United Nations Youth Unit, UNESCO |
| Participants | youth delegates, observers, non-governmental organizations |
| Previous | World Conference on Youth 1978 |
| Next | World Conference on Youth 1995 |
World Conference on Youth 1985 The World Conference on Youth 1985 convened in Athens at the Palace of Culture and Sports between 1 and 12 August 1985, bringing together thousands of delegates representing international youth movements, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The meeting built on earlier gatherings such as the World Festival of Youth and Students and the International Youth Year 1985 initiatives, and intersected with diplomatic efforts by actors like the United Nations General Assembly, UNESCO, and regional bodies including the European Community and the Organization of African Unity.
The conference emerged from resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and planning by the United Nations Secretariat and the United Nations Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in the wake of the International Youth Year 1985 proclamation. Hosting responsibilities involved the Hellenic Republic, the City of Athens, and national agencies such as the Ministry of Culture (Greece) and the Greek National Tourism Organization. Logistics were coordinated with international partners including International Labour Organization, World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and networks like the World Federation of Democratic Youth and the World Assembly of Youth.
Official themes reflected priorities set by the United Nations and featured sessions on development aligned with Brundtland Commission concerns, human rights informed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and peace issues resonant with the Cold War context. Panels and workshops drew on expertise from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and case studies referencing Camp David Accords, Helsinki Accords, and Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies. Cultural programmes highlighted ties to institutions such as the European Cultural Foundation and performances referencing the Festival of Arts and Culture of Athens.
Delegates came from member states of the United Nations, regional organizations including the Organization of American States, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Arab League, as well as youth NGOs like International Union of Students, Scouting (Scouting movement), and YOUNGO. Prominent national delegations included representatives associated with the United States Agency for International Development, the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, India, Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa (in the context of anti-apartheid campaigns), and Israel. Specialized participants included agencies such as the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, and professional bodies like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The conference concluded with statements intended to influence policy discussions at the United Nations General Assembly and the World Summit for Children. Key outputs included a consolidated youth declaration referencing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, calls for implementation of recommendations from the World Conference on Women and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and proposals for collaboration with institutions like the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization on youth employment and health. The meeting advanced networks between organizations such as the International Youth Foundation, the Open Society Foundations (through affiliated programs), and regional NGOs connected to the African Union precursor, the Organization of African Unity.
The event influenced subsequent gatherings including the World Summit for Social Development and the 1995 follow-up youth conference, while shaping youth policy dialogues within the United Nations Development Programme and regional commissions like the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Initiatives incubated in Athens informed projects supported by the European Commission and philanthropic institutions such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Academic and civil society actors from Harvard University, London School of Economics, University of Athens, and the American University engaged in research building on conference outputs, and the event became a reference in archives at institutions like the United Nations Archives.
Critics from organizations including the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch questioned how effectively the conference addressed human rights abuses implicated in contexts such as Apartheid, the Iran–Iraq War, and tensions associated with the Cold War. Some delegations and NGOs accused major powers—represented by states like the United States and the Soviet Union—of politicizing agenda items, while activists aligned with groups such as the Anti-Apartheid Movement and Greenpeace argued that environmental and anti-nuclear concerns tied to movements like the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament received insufficient emphasis. Debates over participation mirrored disputes seen in assemblies like the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and led to follow-up advocacy by networks such as Youth for Human Rights International and International Youth Council.
Category:1985 conferences Category:Youth events