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| Youth Advisory Council to the UN Secretary-General | |
|---|---|
| Name | Youth Advisory Council to the UN Secretary-General |
| Formation | 2018 |
| Type | Advisory body |
| Headquarters | United Nations Headquarters, New York |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Leader name | (varies) |
| Website | (United Nations) |
Youth Advisory Council to the UN Secretary-General
The Youth Advisory Council to the UN Secretary-General is an advisory body convened to provide strategic counsel to the United Nations Secretary-General on youth-related priorities, policy, and outreach. It operates at the intersection of multilateral diplomacy exemplified by the United Nations General Assembly, programmatic work represented by the United Nations Development Programme, and advocacy networks including the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth and regional commissions such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The Council was created in response to calls for enhanced youth participation voiced at fora such as the World Programme of Action for Youth, the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and the Global Forum on Youth Policies, and reflects precedents set by advisory mechanisms like the UN Youth Delegate Programme and the UN Youth Envoy office. Its establishment followed consultations with stakeholders including UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Bank, and civil society actors like Restless Development and Youth for Climate Action, as well as proposals tabled during sessions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the High-level Advisory Board on Mediation.
The Council’s mandate spans policy advice, advocacy, and liaison functions oriented toward instruments such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It provides input on thematic priorities including youth employment initiatives linked to the International Labour Organization, sexual and reproductive health guidance associated with UNFPA, and peacebuilding efforts connected to the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. The Council also supports outreach aligned with campaigns like the Global Goals and collaborates with operational entities such as UN Women, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Membership comprises young leaders drawn from regional groups recognized by the United Nations Regional Groups system, youth-led organizations including Plan International and Save the Children, and sectors represented by entities like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Selection processes have involved nominations from Member States during General Assembly debates, competitive application rounds evaluated by panels with representatives from the UN Secretariat, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, and independent experts from institutions such as Columbia University and the London School of Economics. Eligibility criteria reference instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child where applicable.
The Council has convened thematic consultations feeding into events like the UN Climate Change Conference and the UN Summit of the Future, produced policy briefs influencing the High-level Political Forum, and launched initiatives modeled on partnerships with the Global Partnership for Education and the Green Climate Fund. It has organized dialogues with leaders including the UN Secretary-General, coordinated campaigns in tandem with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and participated in project pilots with operational agencies such as UNDP and WHO to scale youth entrepreneurship and mental health interventions.
The Council engages bilaterally and multilaterally with bodies including the Security Council on youth, peace, and security frameworks, the General Assembly for agenda-setting, and the Economic and Social Council for programmatic review. It conducts briefings for delegations from blocs like the African Union, the European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and liaises with national youth councils such as those in Canada, Kenya, and Brazil to harmonize local priorities with multilateral policy. Coordination mechanisms have linked the Council to treaty bodies and special procedures such as the Special Rapporteur on the rights of the child.
Evaluations by think tanks and research centers including Chatham House, the Brookings Institution, and the International Crisis Group note the Council’s role in elevating youth perspectives to instruments like the 2030 Agenda, while critiques from organizations such as Global Policy Forum and scholars at Oxford University question its influence relative to entrenched diplomatic processes in the United Nations Secretariat. Observers point to challenges in resource allocation from entities like the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office and in measuring outcomes against indicators used by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Independent audits and reviews have recommended clearer reporting lines with offices such as the Office of Internal Oversight Services.
Notable participants have included youth leaders who later assumed roles within institutions like the European Commission, African Union Commission, and national ministries in India and South Africa, as well as alumni active in networks such as One Young World, the Commonwealth Youth Council, and Youth Business International. Chairs and convenors have had previous affiliations with organizations including UNICEF, Oxfam, and academic centers at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.