Start Date : 13 Aug 07   End Date : 17 Aug 07 Location: UN Headquarters in Nairobi

Introduction:
In support of International Youth Day (IYD) 2007 and action-oriented programmes and activities that focus on youth-led initiatives, UN-HABITAT is planning in partnership with sister agencies, youth organizations and Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, Kenya UN-wide IYD celebrations at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi during the week of 13 to 17 August, 2007.

Background:
The proposed International Youth Day celebrations at the Gigiri Complex offers an opportunity for United Nations Agencies and Programmes to collaboratively feature their youth programmes, best practices and lessons learned from the local, national and global levels. Moreover, the IYD celebrations present a platform for recognizing the potential of youth and youth initiatives to advocate for youth concerns, achievements and solutions. It will also offer an opportunity for dialogue and exchange of ideas on the way forward in promoting effective engagement of young people in their development and that of their communities at large. This occasion further presents a unique opportunity for all key actors working with youth and on youth issues in Kenya to rally together in support of the inclusion of young people in the development and implementation of programmes and activities. Ultimately, it will support the participation of young people in decision-making mechanisms related to their empowerment.

The General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day to be celebrated on an annual basis. Furthermore, the General Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81).

Previous Celebrations of International Youth Day include:
IYD 2006 - Tackling Poverty Together
IYD 2005 - WPAY+10: Making Commitments Matter
IYD 2004 - Youth in an Intergenerational Society
IYD 2003 - Finding decent and productive work for young people everywhere
IYD 2002 - Now and for the Future: Youth Action for Sustainable Development
IYD 2001 - Addressing Health and Unemployment
First Observance of International Youth Day 2000

Why the International Youth Day Celebrations in Kenya
According to the United Nations World Youth Report 2005, 515 million young people live on less than $2 a day. It must be noted that it is young people who are most affected by problems of rapid urbanization, homelessness, unemployment, crime, violence and environmental degradation. Youth continue to live in troubling conditions around the world, and tackling poverty is not a small task. Without decent work, youth are left particularly susceptible to poverty, which in turn complicates access to higher education and basic health services. This also eliminates their access to the necessary assets and resources, strong social networks and decision-making status which is needed for personal development.

International Youth Day 2007 – Be seen Be Heard provides a chance to encourage and cultivate forward thinking towards the development of initiatives to support youth empowerment and development. It will serve as a conduit to rally support from key stakeholders– Governments, non governmental organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and municipal authorities - working on issues concerning youth people.

UN agencies and Programmes coming together to showcase their best practices and lessons learned regarding activities for young people will promote system-wide collaboration in  support of youth empowerment and youth-led development. This, among other things, will foster dialogue and raise awareness to support young people to participate in their society as well as to develop programmes that respond to their emerging needs. Moreover, this collaboration will pave the way for new partnerships and action planning to further support the participation of young people in the processes and decisions that affect their lives.

Proposed Activities
Through the support of Governments to enable the participation of youth in national and local activities related to human settlements development, including through the formulation of integrated, gender-sensitive and cross-sectoral youth policies at the local level and through supporting the development of local youth plans of action targeting vulnerable groups, UN-HABITAT proposes the following IYD activities:

Opening Ceremony and Reception
As part of the UN-wide Exhibition, UN-HABITAT will host an opening ceremony and reception on Monday, 13 August, 2007 at the Gigiri complex in the Main Lobby from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Invited guests will include representatives of UN Agencies and Programmes, youth organizations, the private sector, the diplomatic corps and Government.

UN-Wide Exhibition (13h to 17, August 2007) - Main Lobby of the Gigiri Complex.
Exhibitors both youth groups, partners, sister agencies have been invited to showcase their work on youth and issues concerning young people.  The exhibition will run for one week from 13 to 17 August, 2007. Participating agencies and programmes will be responsible for their respective space and technical requirements related to their exhibitions.

Commitments desks
The young people attending the opening ceremony will come up with commitment requests that they would like participating agencies and partners to commit to achieving by the next IYD in 2008. The United Nations Office in Nairobi’s Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) will document these commitments and provide the necessary follow up. The YEP and the commitment desk will be part of the exhibition from 13 to 17 August, 2007.