OHCHR engagement on youth focuses on the age range of 15 to 24 y/o as defined in 2018 United Nations Strategy on Youth.
Key elements: OHCHR has integrated in its planning a new focus on young people as the ‘spotlight population’ and priority target group until 2030. This includes promoting and protecting civic and political engagement such as the following elements:
1) Protect and promote young people’s human rights: prioritize advocacy and policy development to address human rights violations and ensure access to justice.
2) Raise awareness about the specific situation of young people’s rights: promote understanding of barriers and challenges the youth face in accessing their rights.
3) Mainstream human rights: promote all rights of young people into the works of treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms and highlight the protecting defenders and their organizations.
4) Promote participation in political and public affairs: Promote the capacity of the UN to promote young people’s right to participate in political and civic affairs.
5) Develop capacity and human rights education: increase UN efforts to promote education and training for youth, foster civic awareness among young people.
If you are a young person who is passionate about promoting and protecting human rights, apply to join the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Youth Network for the Middle East and North Africa.
Members of the MENA Youth Network will also be added to the pool from which we select potential participants or speakers in national, regional, and international activities, including conferences, seminars, trainings, and consultation processes.