Mission

To amplify the voices of youth leaders and young professionals, providing a platform for their perspectives on gender equality and channels for their advocacy at the United Nations. To convene young people to consult and contribute to the advancement of the international feminist movement.

Vision

We envision bridging the intergenerational gap in the global feminist movement and empowering young people to flourish as leaders and decision makers across all sectors, for a more gender equitable world.

The Youth Leaders & Young Professionals (YLYPs) are a community of young people and youth advocates who are passionate about global gender equality and looking to engage in or learn about UN processes, especially the CSW.

Without consistent intergenerational conversation, we will not move the needle on gender equality. That is why NGO CSW/NY runs a Youth Leaders and Young Professionals program to empower youth to become more involved in the global women’s rights movement. The YLYP program’s mission is to allow youth to expand their networks and more effectively contribute their voice to global conversations surrounding women’s and girl’s rights. 

WHAT WE DO

Youth Preparation Series

Each year, the Youth Leaders & Young Professionals host an event series leading up to the CSW and NGO CSW Forum. The series aims to prepare youth to have a meaningful and effective experience at the CSW.  The eight events in the series include informational panels, advocacy training, and professional development and networking sessions.

Watch the available recordings from the CSW67 Youth Prep Series.

Youth Spaces at the CSW & NGO CSW Forum

The YLYPs, with global partners, create youth spaces and organize youth-centered events during the CSW and NGO CSW Forum. These spaces include a youth-focused civil society briefing, networking spaces, youth Parallel Events, and more!

Photo: UN Women/Catianne Tijerina

Connecting UN Youth Spaces

We strongly believe in the necessity of meaningful integration of youth across all relevant UN Commissions. Rather than working in silos and having separate youth spaces in each UN Commission, it's essential that these different youth spaces are cohesive and connected for a more powerful and effective global youth movement.

Regional Engagment

Throughout everything that we do, the YLYPs always make sure to include a global perspective by engaging regional partners and their communities. We recognize that regional cooperation fosters greater collaboration to mobilize a coalition that prioritizes advocacy and action. We're committed to continuing and improving upon our regional engagement.

WHY JOIN THE YLYPS?

Learn about & advocate for youth involvement at the United Nations

Prepare for the UN CSW and NGO CSW Forum

Join a community of other youth activists and young professionals

FEATURED

NGO CSW67 Youth Engagement

There was more youth participation during this NGO CSW Forum than ever before! Almost 7,000 young people attended the Forum; that's almost half of all attendees! We’re so proud to have helped foster such a strong intergenerational community with meaningful participation of all ages at the Forum.

YLYP CSW Reflections

There was more youth participation during this CSW than ever before! Some of the highlights were the first-ever Youth Interactive Dialogue, the Youth Forum, and the Youth Morning Briefing where young people and youth movement allies gathered to learn about, advocate for, and activate around youth engagement at the CSW67 and NGO CSW67 Forum. Read our reflections about the youth engagement at CSW.

June 2023 Youth Newsletter

In this edition:
- NGO CSW67 Forum Report
- Intern Blog Posts
- Save the Date: NGO CSW/NY June Monthly Meeting
- YOUNGA Engagement Opportunities
- Follow-up: NGO CSW/NY May Monthly Meeting

Youth Preparation Series

There was more youth participation during this CSW than ever before! Some of the highlights were the first-ever Youth Interactive Dialogue, the Youth Forum, and the Youth Morning Briefing where young people and youth movement allies gathered to learn about, advocate for, and activate around youth engagement at the CSW67 and NGO CSW67 Forum. Read our reflections about the youth engagement at CSW.

UPCOMING YLYP EVENTS

There are currently no YLYP events scheduled. Join our mailing list to get emails about our upcoming events.

YLYP DELEGATE CHAMPIONS FOR CSW67

We are thrilled to announce our YLYP Delegate Champions for CSW67! Through collaboration with Women Have Wings, the YLYPs have been able to grant five youth advocates funding to travel to NYC or host events and watch parties in their communities for the NGO CSW67 Forum!

Connecting young advocates like our Delegate Champions to the CSW processes is an essential part of uplifting the future generation of civil society professionals. As one of the largest gatherings of global feminist civil society and gender equality advocates, it is vital to represent the ideas, goals, and experiences of global youth. Engaging with the needs and concerns of younger generations can create a powerful effort to move the needle and accelerate progress towards mutual goals.

GLOBAL MENTORS FOR YOUTH LEADERS

With our global mentorship program, our vision is to continue to facilitate the friendship, support and mentorship between generations of gender equality activists. We hope to encourage a mutually supportive learning relationship with youth and experienced advocates and foster an ongoing conversation where together we can create a community and inclusive culture that facilitates the emergence of a strong intergenerational movement of activists for gender equality.

See the list of our Global Mentors for Youth Leaders and learn more about them. Each mentor is committed to gender equality with experience in civil society advocacy at the United Nations, particularly for CSW.

LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE YLYPs

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