unescocontributiontothe1stforumon.docVIP

UNESCO contribution to the 1st Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law “Widening the Democratic Space: the role of youth in public decision-making” (Geneva, November 2016) Overview of relevant international instruments Human Rights Council Resolution 28/14 (2015) established the first Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule Law (Democracy Forum) “to provide a platform for promoting dialogue […] and to analyze best practices, challenges and opportunities for States in their efforts to secure respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law”. The theme of the 2016 session is “Widening the Democratic Space: the role of youth in public decision-making”. OHCHR recalls that in resolution 68/130 (2014), the UN General Assembly urged “Member States and entities of the United Nations System, in consultation with youth-led organizations, to explore avenues to promote full, effective, structured and sustainable participation of young people and youth-led organizations in decision-making processes”. This international umbrella is reinforced by Human Rights Council Resolution 32/L.1 (2016) which encourages the identification of “challenges, best practices and lessons learned in the exercise of human rights by young people, as well as relevant opportunities for the empowerment of youth in the exercise of their rights”. In the context of rising extreme violence and terror attacks, UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) on youth, peace and security is particularly relevant as it urges Member States “to consider ways to give youth a greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels”. Focusing entirely on the role of young women and men in peacebuilding and countering violent extremism, the Resolution positions youth and youth-led organizations as important partners in global efforts to address the challenges at hand. UNESCO’s role in shaping an international and a regional agenda for youth