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alert-danger p-5"><h2>Sorry, the browser you are using is not fully supported by our site.</h2><p class="my-3">Please consider using Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox.</p></div></div><div id="content-container" class="container-fluid px-0"><!DOCTYPE HTML><div class="container mx-auto mt-0"> <div class=" row"> <div style="" class=" col-lg-12"> <h1 class="site-heading">UNODC and Youth</h1> </div> </div> </div><div class="container mx-auto mt-0"> <div class=" row my-2"> <div style="" class=" col-lg-12"> <h3 class="site-label ">General Information</h3> <div class=" island px-0 py-3 pt-lg-0 pb-lg-3 col-lg-6 float-left pl-lg-0 pr-lg-4 "> <div class="image-container"><img src="/brulo/uploads/res/youth_html/youthnchildren1.png" class="img-fluid" alt="alt text is missing" title="alt text is missing"></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the world advances the Decade of Action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the engagement of young people has become ever more imperative to create new pathways for positive change and innovation. The <span style="color: #0ba4f3;"><strong><a href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals"><span style="color: #0ba4f3;">Sustainable Development Goals</span></a> </strong></span>(SDGs) - including SDG 16 - cannot be effectively achieved without <strong>meaningful youth engagement</strong>, which empowers them to take positive actions in their communities. It is important to address the multifaceted socio-economic, security, political, and health challenges posed to young generations in a balanced and comprehensive manner. This is done by investing in and <strong>working with and for youth</strong>, through <strong>youth-sensitive, human rights-based and people-centred approaches</strong>. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">This is also in line with the objectives expressed by the United Nations Secretary-General in his report <strong><span style="color: #0ba4f3;"><a href="https://www.un.org/en/un75/common-agenda"><span style="color: #0ba4f3;">Our Common Agenda</span></a></span></strong>, which clearly indicates that delivering on the priorities of young people and meaningfully including them in decision-making, are investments that will lead to immediate and long-term benefits for the future.</div> <h3 class="site-label ">Our Work</h3> <div class=" island px-0 py-3 pt-lg-0 pb-lg-3 col-lg-6 float-right pr-lg-0 pl-lg-4 "> <div class="image-container"><img src="/brulo/uploads/res/youth_html/youthnchildren2.png" class="img-fluid" alt="alt text is missing" title="alt text is missing"></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports Member States in making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption, and terrorism and promotes security and justice for all.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Youth and young people are essential to accomplish UNODC’s mandates, enhance the rule of law, improve human security, and pursue justice, integrity, and health priorities.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">More specifically, UNODC has the mandate to support Member States in engaging youth in crime prevention efforts and in evidence-based drug use prevention, as well as ensuring that youth and children are better served and protected by the justice systems. The Office also promotes strict compliance with and enhanced implementation of relevant UN resolutions and international tools, as well as increased engagement in major coordination frameworks focusing on youth policies.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The UNODC Brussels Liaison Office works with its close partners in order to <strong>mainstream youth perspectives</strong>, <strong>encourage youth voices and ideas</strong>, and <strong>empower their meaningful participation</strong> and engagement in peace and security, sustainable development and human rights promotion.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">As a cross-cutting topic, significant attention is placed on crime prevention and education, tailored to meet the specific requirements of youth. Along these lines feature the implementation and integration of the <strong><a href="https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/Congress/21-02815_Kyoto_Declaration_ebook_rev_cover.pdf">Kyoto Declaration</a></strong>, adopted by the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and specifically its commitments highlighting the role of youth in crime prevention and the need for their empowerment to promote the rule of law.</div> <h3 class="site-label ">Our Cooperation with the EU</h3> <div class=" island px-0 py-3 pt-lg-0 pb-lg-3 col-lg-6 float-left pl-lg-0 pr-lg-4 "> <div class="image-container"><img src="/brulo/uploads/res/youth_html/youthnchildren3.png" class="img-fluid" alt="alt text is missing" title="alt text is missing"></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The participation and empowerment of next generations represents a major cross-cutting priority of the European Union (EU), as clearly recognized in the <a href="https://europa.eu/youth/strategy_en">EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027</a>, the <a href="http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8629-2020-INIT/en/pdf">2020 Council Conclusions on Youth in External Action</a>, and the <a href="https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/eu_action_plan_on_human_rights_and_democracy_2020-2024.pdf">EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024</a>, to name a few. The importance of youth for the EU has been also signaled by the Commission proposal to make 2022 the <a href="https://europa.eu/youth/year-of-youth_en"><strong>European Year of Youth</strong></a>, aimed at shining a light on the importance of European youth to build a better future – greener, more inclusive and digital. UNODC has a long-standing cooperation with the EU in policy development and standard-setting work, and in assisting partner countries and regions to address key security challenges emanating from the drugs problem, organized crime, corruption and terrorism, including with regards to children and youth. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The European Union is currently contributing to UNODC's work to end violence against children and to protect children and youth from the harm of drugs. The <strong><a href="https://www.unodc.org/unodc/justice-and-prison-reform/global-programme-to-end-violence-against-children/strive-juvenile.html">STRIVE Juvenile</a></strong> project is a flagship example of the EU-UNODC partnership that supports national responses to terrorism and violent extremism affecting children.</div> <h3 class="site-label ">Our Cooperation with Belgium</h3> <div class=" island px-0 py-3 pt-lg-0 pb-lg-3 col-lg-6 float-right pr-lg-0 pl-lg-4 "> <div class="image-container"><img src="/brulo/uploads/res/youth_html/youthnchildren4.jpg" class="img-fluid" alt="alt text is missing" title="alt text is missing"></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Youth, peace and security, promotion of human rights, with particular regard to children and the protection of civilians in crises, especially protection of children in armed conflicts, are considered among the most important elements of Belgium’s foreign policy and peace-building priorities. Belgium’s commitment to the topic was also shown at the <a href="https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/subsidiary/wgcaac"><span style="color: #0ba4f3;">UN <span style="color: #0ba4f3;">Working Group on Children and Armed Conflic</span></span><span style="color: #0ba4f3;">t</span></a>, which, under its leadership, adopted <strong>fifteen consensus texts on how to deal with violations of children's rights</strong> in some of the most controversial country dossiers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">UNODC works alongside its Belgian partners in addressing the risks caused by <strong>trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, </strong>and<strong> terrorism</strong>, including through joint actions on the ground and support to awareness raising events and sensitization campaigns.</div></div> </div> </div><div class="container mx-auto mt-0"> <div class=" row"> <div style="" class=" col-lg-6"> <h2 class="site-heading">Additional Information</h2><span style="color: #0ba4f3;"><a href="https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/youth/index.html"><span style="color: #0ba4f3;">Youth and UNODC</span></a></span><br /><span style="color: #0ba4f3;"><a href="https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/youth-un/"><span style="color: #0ba4f3;">UN Youth Strategy</span></a></span><br /> <p> </p></div> </div> </div></div><div id="footer-container" class="container-fluid"><div class="container"><div class="row footer-logo-container"><div class="py-3 py-lg-4 px-0 col"><div class="site-footer d-flex flex-nowrap align-items-center"><div class="site-footer-logo"><a href="/index.html"><img class="img-responsive" alt="United Nations" src="/cdn/shared/standard/images/un-emblem-white.svg"></img></a></div><div class="site-footer-title px-2"><a href="/index.html">United Nations</a></div></div><ul id="social-media-global" class="d-flex flex-lg-column std-social-light"><li class="std-social-media item-facebook"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/unodc" class=""><i class="fab"><span class="sr-only">Facebook</span></i></a></li><li class="std-social-media item-twitter"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/UNODC_Brussels" class=""><i class="fab"><span class="sr-only">Twitter</span></i></a></li><li class="std-social-media item-youtube"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlPLsjr5DYxtZKAfx4HlzQ" class=""><i class="fab"><span class="sr-only">Youtube</span></i></a></li><li class="std-social-media item-flickr"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/unodc/" class=""><i class="fab"><span class="sr-only">Flickr</span></i></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="row footer-nav-container"><div class="py-lg-3 px-0 col"><div class="footer-nav"><ul><li><a href="brulo/en/index.html">Home</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/news.html">News</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/projects.html">Projects</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/partnerships.html">Partnerships</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/campaigns.html">Campaigns</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/publications.html">Publications</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/policies.html">Policies</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/meet-the-team.html">Meet the Team</a></li><li><a href="/brulo/en/contact-us.html">Contact Us</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><script src="/brulo/misc/webpack/js/runtime.68495fcd.js"></script><script src="/brulo/misc/webpack/js/vendor.4be638d1.js"></script><script src="/brulo/misc/webpack/js/addon.7eabf673.js"></script><script src="/brulo/misc/webpack/js/main.390e84b4.js"></script></body></html>