A CALL FOR ALL PARTNERS1 WORLDWIDE TO CREATE A GLOBAL PLATFORM FOR URBAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TO EMPOWER YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN TO BE POSITIVE AGENTS OF CHANGE.
We, the participants of the United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum Breakout Session on the SDG11, at UN Headquarters in New York, and The Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum Youth Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have gathered to discuss the continuing and emerging roles, potential, and responsibilities of local youth councils focused on sustainable and resilient urban development, and commit to ensuring their full engagement in all processes of urban decision-making, including urban rules and regulations; urban planning and design; basic services; housing; community safety; governance and municipal finance.
Recognizing that inequity inhibits youth development, and that the full realization of the rights of youth is a prerequisite to lasting, peaceful, and sustainable development, we commit to addressing their needs and rights, while removing all barriers that limit their social, political, and economic inclusion in urban life. We reaffirm that youth are agents of positive change, and their growing population presents an opportunity to generate urban practices and policies that are more reflective of the realities affecting their lives.
We call for long-term commitment stakeholders to the following actions:
Action 1: Establish a global coalition of researchers focusing on youth rights and development, who will collect, exchange, and disseminate data and knowledge on the conditions of urban youth;
Action 2: Ensure youth are empowered to engage in all dimensions of urban life and decision-making, including urban legislation; urban planning and design; municipal finance, basic services, governance, and housing;
Action 3: Promote inclusive capacity-building for urban youth mechanisms, and encourage the creation of new urban youth councils;
Action 4: Establish a global network of City Youth Councils and Assemblies, Local Youth Councils, and Advisory Boards, to network, exchange knowledge and best practices, and promote youth development in the context of Agenda 2030 and the New Urban Agenda and create momentum at the local, national and international level to undertake critical activities such as stopping climate change, improving youth response to humanitarian crisis, youth peace, and security.
We the undersigned agree to collectively review at regular intervals and be accountable for the progress of the implementation of this covenant. By agreeing to this covenant, we are accountable for and commit to transforming urban action for and with young people, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
MEMBERS OF THE WORLD COALITION:
All signatories to this Compact document agree to work collectively towards urban youth development to empower young women and men to be positive agents of change, through respecting the mentioned action points.
Local Governments, Municipalities, Regional Metropolitan Institutions and Agencies, and Other Local Authorities, with UN Member States, UN System Entities, Civil Society, Private Sector, Media, Youth-led and Youth-serving Organizations