Council of Europe introduces quality label for youth centers

The Council of Europe has published a guide for youth centers seeking the Council's seal of approval. The Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres can help existing youth centers determine whether their existing policies and programs support the values, standards and objectives of the CoE, and can provide guidance for improvement in these areas if necessary.

Indicators of quality contained in the guide include:

The centre promotes the priorities of the Council of Europe's youth sector by actively addressing human rights education, intercultural learning, youth participation, active democratic citizenship and social inclusion of young people in its activities, working practices and infrastructure.

And:

The centre is an ally for youth civil society in advocating for decision makers and power holders to take young people's points of view and concerns into account when making and implementing policies.

This publication should be useful for youth service providers and others supporting youth participation even outside of Europe.

Voices of a New Generation at the UN Security Council

From December 2-14, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations is accepting videos and written submissions from young people around the world who respond to the following question:

“What is the most vital challenge to international peace and security facing your generation? Tell the UN Security Council what issue you believe deserves more attention, and explain why it is important.”

Selected submissions will be incorporated into the agenda of the Security Council event on December 21, which will be broadcast live via the web. For more information, visit www.usun.state.gov.

Azerbaijani youth minister discusses government's support for youth participation

According to Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's national government has financed more than 350 youth organizations over the past five years. The minister made this statement during a speech to the First Congress of World Azerbaijani Youth, which took place in Frankfurt November 27-28. Minister Rahimov also stated that young people make up 30% of local authorities in Azerbaijan, with 326 municipal councils chaired by young people.

First ever Azerbaijani World Youth Congress

European Youth Forum elects new leadership

On Monday, November 22 more than 250 young delegates participated in the European Youth Forum General Assembly 2010, hosted by the Ukrainian Youth Forum. Elections were held to elect the 2011-2012 general assembly leadership. The General Assembly adopted the European Youth Forum's Work Plan for the next two years, focusing on Volunteering, Youth Rights and the Building of a Stronger Youth Civil Society, and two Policy Papers on Global Governance and on Poverty and Young People.

Youth participation digest for December 2, 2010

UN-HABITAT Launches Global Youth Help Desk

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Partners and Youth Branch, in collaboration with partners, have developed a Global Youth Help Desk (GYHD). The aim of the site is to enable youth, youth practitioners and researchers to share and access information and tools needed to resolve social and economic problems at their work or within their community, or to improve or take developmental initiatives. This site will be user driven, meaning the users will be responsible for updating and adding to the information to the site. The GYHD will be a place to share best practices, participate in discussion, and ask questions. Youth, researchers, community projects, and NGOs worldwide are encouraged to contribute to the GYHD. A pilot site is currently set up and the final site will be launched in early 2011.

Generation Dialogue

Generation Dialogue is a new Facebook page which will host a weekly online conversation with decision makers and leaders. Guests will answer questions submitted by users. The organizer indicates that in the first few rounds he will host heads of state, media directors, economic leaders and many more. A recent guest was May Boeve, Global Policy Coordinator for 350.org.

Youth Civic Participation in Action

Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) recently released a new publication providing brief snapshots of youth civic participation programs and policies in 101 countries across six continents. Based on research conducted and information received from previous participants of the IANYS 8th Global Conference and other ICP projects, Youth Civic Participation in Action: Meeting Community and Youth Development Needs highlights the growing momentum for youth civic participation worldwide as more countries develop programs to provide opportunities for young people to build skills for success while also addressing critical community needs. Each snapshot provides a brief glimpse into the status of youth civic participation in the countries included.

15th Annual THIMUN Youth Assembly

The THIMUN Youth Network (TYN) will be celebrating its ten-year anniversary and hosting the 15th annual session of its Youth Assembly in the Hague, the Netherlands from January 23-28. The THIMUN Youth Assembly is an international think tank that aims to bring young people (16 to 25) together to discuss the most pressing issues facing today's world. The network strives to strengthen youth participation by having participants research and develop achievable and sustainable projects in their own communities.

New paper from the Center for International Private Enterprise supports youth participation in development

The Center for International Private Enterprise has released a new economic reform policy paper called "Promoting Youth Development: Policy Options and Reform Recommendations." The paper is based in part on essays submitted by youth as part of the Center's International Youth Essay Contest, and offers recommendations for the inclusion of youth in development decision-making. According to the introduction, "Creating an inclusionary youth policy that focuses on the value of entrepreneurship, citizen participation, and the freedom of information is vital for the future of free markets and democracy."

Paper at a glance:

• The burgeoning youth population in the developing world has created an impetus to alleviate youth unemployment and political disenfranchisement through reform.
• Needed reforms must be influenced by the grassroots youth community, rather than limited to the traditional, top-down government approach to youth policy.
• The institutional environment has to be improved to facilitate the growth of the private sector and provide employment opportunities to youth entering the labor market.

Whale sanctuary seeks applicants for advisory council

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill eight primary seats and eight alternate seats on its advisory council, including a youth member. According to Hawaii247.org, this would make the HIHWNMS one of the first sanctuaries in the country to include a youth member on its advisory council.

The council advises HIHWNMS management on resource protection, research, education and outreach programs. The all-volunteer council is made up of 17 voting members and 15 non-voting members. Members represent a variety of local user groups, the general public, and state and federal governmental jurisdictions.

The youth seat is being added to help the sanctuary appeal to younger community members. It is a non-voting position.

The application deadline is January 31, 2010. For further information visit the sanctuary website.

Whale sanctuary seeks applicants for advisory council