A special UN Agency for Youth

We, young leaders and professionals herein gathered at the International Youth Leadership Summit (IYLS) from 18-19, November 2010 at the KICC, Nairobi bringing more than 300 young leaders from all over the world, in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the UN Habitat.

AFFIRMING that young people form the majority of the world’s population at more than 60% and are inherently faced with the world’s greatest challenges, and noting with concern that young people continue to be excluded from mainstream society and decision making.

RECOGNIZING the necessity to take youth issues into consideration in the development agenda and policies of each country and further recognizing the need to harmonize global efforts to address youth related issues.

NOTING that the United Nations Programme on Youth of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs is currently the only part of the United Nations Secretariat with the explicit mandate to address youth issues.

COMMENDING the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) as adopted by the General Assembly and which provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people around the world.

AKNOWLEDGING the several Declarations and Programmes of Action at the various UN world conferences from the early 1990’s which make specific references to youth and the rights they should be afforded and further acknowledging the commitments already made towards addressing youth concerns in the Millennium Development Goals, Convention on the Rights of the Child, UN programme of action on Youth and inviting partners to reaffirm their commitment.

RECOGNIZING the roles played by the UN HABITAT, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNEP, ONODC in addressing the various challenges affecting the youth.

BUOYED UP by the creation of UN Women in July 2010 and the subsequent appointment of Ms. Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile as Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women.

ENCOURAGED by the UN General Assembly resolution 64/134 proclaiming the International Year of Youth and the call by the UN Secretary General that “Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in decision-making at local, national and global levels."

HIGHLIGHTING the primacy of the United Nations amid a field of growing groupings as an effective and the most central global forum for finding effective solutions to today's challenges.

ECHOING the many calls since 1990 for the United Nations to be reformed with a view to making it more "more democratic", and a key institution managing global affairs effectively.

PURSUANT to the Dar Es Salaam Communique dated 17th December 2010 by 16 beneficiary organizations of the UN Habitat Opportunity Fund, calling for a similar cause.