World Youth Report
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WORLD YOUTH REPORT YOUTH AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORLD YOUTH REPORT YOUTH AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORLD YOUTH REPORT YOUTH AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS NEW YORK, 2018 World Youth Report Published by the United Nations New York, New York 10017 United States of America United Nations Publication Sales No.: E.18.IV.7 ISBN: 978-92-1-130349-0 eISBN: 978-92-1-363256-7 Copyright © United Nations, 2018 All rights reserved All queries or rights and licenses including subsidiary rights should be addressed to United Nations Publications, 405 E. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, United States of America; email: [email protected]; website: un.org/publications. Note: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitations of its frontiers. The term “country” as used in the text of the present report also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas. The designations of country groups in the text and the tables are intended solely for statistical or analytical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of the names of firms and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. Technical Note: In this publication, unless otherwise indicated, the term “youth” refers to all those between the ages of 15 and 24, as reflected in the World Programme of Action for Youth. The term “young people” may be used interchangeably with the word “youth”. Disclaimer: The views expressed in the contributions to this publication are those of the individual authors and do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the United Nations or of the organizations with which the authors are affiliated. Front Cover Photo: UN Photo/Marco Dormino Design: Graphic Design Unit, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications, United Nations, New York THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which Member States of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. www.un.org/development/desa/youth ©UN Photo/Manuel Elias ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The World Youth Report, prepared biennially, is the flag- and outside the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, ship publication on youth issues of the Department in particular Aashish Khullar (United Nations Major Group for of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Children and Youth), also benefited the Report. Secretariat. The World Youth Report: Youth and the 2030 A special thank you is extended to all the young Agenda for Sustainable Development is a product of the people and youth-led organizations that submitted case efforts, contributions and support of many people and studies for the Report; there are too many to mention organizations. individually. Appreciation goes to UNIC Tokyo for the pro- * The Report was prepared by the Division for vision of some of the photos used in the Report. These Inclusive Social Development, led by Director Daniela case studies and photos have been invaluable in bringing Bas. Much of the research and writing was carried out by this publication to life. Elizabeth Niland under the guidance of Alberto Padova Finally, thank you is extended to Terri Lore, who and Nicola Shepherd, who also helped shape the final patiently edited the Report. draft of the Report. The Report represents a collaborative effort and reflects the input and contributions of experts We are grateful to all who have contributed. in the field of youth and development. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs would like to * S ome of photos in the Report are provided courtesy of the United extend special thanks to the Report’s contributing authors, Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Tokyo. In 2016, UNIC Tokyo including Darren Swanson (Novel Future Corporation) for and Sophia University, with the cooperation of Getty Images his contribution on Sustainable Development Goal adap- Japan, co-organized the “Spotlight on the SDGs” photo contest. The organizers invited college students, university undergraduate tation, Simon McGrath (University of Nottingham) for his and graduate students, and vocational school students to submit contribution on education, Paul Dyer (Maxwell Stamp, photos relating to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on depicting elements of these Inc.) for his contribution on employment, and Gemma Goals at the community level. The contest attracted a total of 622 Wood (NAPS) for her work on the statistical annex. entries from 47 countries, and winning entries were showcased in an exhibit at United Nations Headquarters in New York in July and August 2017. Photos from the young contest winners have The Report benefited from the contributions of col- been used throughout this Report; the name of the photogra- leagues within the Division for Inclusive Social Development, pher is indicated beneath each photo. In 2017 the Sustainable Development Goals photo contest was held once again. More including Pauline Leonard, Shatho Nfila, Meriam Gueziel and information on the contest can be found at http://www.unic.or.jp/ Anna Trub. Constructive feedback from colleagues within news_press/info/26339/?lang=en. WORLD YOUTH REPORT: Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development v CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................... v EXPLANATORY NOTES Abbreviations used in the Report ..................................................... xi Notes on regional, country and area groupings and subgroupings ������������������������������ xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................... 1 Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: advancing youth development .............. 1 Youth employment and education in the 2030 Agenda ....................................... 1 Youth policies and evidence for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ...................... 2 Localizing the 2030 Agenda: the role of youth ............................................. 3 Conclusion .................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 5 Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ������������������������������������� 6 The role of youth policies in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ........................ 6 The role of youth in adapting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to national and local contexts... 7 Structure of the Report ............................................................ 7 The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ................................... 9 CHAPTER I: YOUTH AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ......... 11 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: leaving no youth behind ......................... 11 Youth demographics and sustainable development ........................................ 12 Youth as architects of the 2030 Agenda ................................................ 14 Means of implementation: bringing the Sustainable Development Goals to life ..................... 17 Young people working within new and existing frameworks for sustainable development in support of the 2030 Agenda �������������������������������������������������������� 18 CHAPTER II: YOUTH EDUCATION ................................................. 21 Rights-based approach to education .................................................. 23 Youth at risk ................................................................... 25 Young women ............................................................. 25 Youth with disabilities ........................................................ 26 Youth affected by migration, displacement and conflict ................................. 27 Entrepreneurship education ........................................................ 27 Sustainable Development Goal 4: ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all ....................................................... 29 Youth-related targets of Sustainable Development Goal 4: extending the focus of education ........ 30 Conclusions ................................................................... 31 WORLD YOUTH REPORT: Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development vii CHAPTER III: YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ..............................................