Press Release for Youth21 / UN-Habitat and UNDP call for urban youth to “get in” on governance

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 13, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- International youth representatives gather in Nairobi, Kenya for Youth21 conference from 15 – 18 March 2012

• There are 1.2 billion youth in the world today; almost 60% of the global population

The United Nations programmes responsible for development and urban issues are hosting a global meeting on how to get young people more involved in democratic processes in Nairobi, Kenya.

From March 15 – 18th, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN-Habitat, with financial support from the Government of Norway, are hosting a four-day meeting which seeks to better understand and advocate for the engagement of youth in governance.

Officially opening with a video message from the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the meeting, which will host more than 150 young people from around the world, will also feature key youth activists from the arenas of music, popular culture, politics and development.

There are now more people under the age of 25 than ever before; around 1.2 billion or nearly 60% of the world's population. This presents governments a huge challenge in terms of education and service provision as well as opportunities for employment and rights for young workers.

At the same time, young people are becoming more engaged in demanding those rights and standing up to be heard on democratic and political arenas more traditionally reserved for older activists.

On January 25th, 2012, the UN Secretary-General announced that youth will be a focus for the next 5 years of the UN, and that he was going to appoint a Special Advisor on Youth. The Youth 21 initiative builds on this momentum to discuss how to support those youth to take a leadership in the 21st Century.

At the conclusion of this meeting there will be a Final Statement which will be sent to the Secretary-General outlining how youth can be better engaged in the UN and globally.

To register as accredited media for the event you MUST bring your United Nations accreditation, an official national or international press pass AND identification to gain access as a member of the press/media.

Transport to the event and opening press conference will leave from Chester House, Nairobi on Thursday 15 March at 0730am promptly. Please register your interest for this service at +254 (0) 20 762 5518.