GLOBAL YOUTH GATHERING (GYG) 2009

11 to 13 February 2009
Nairobi, Kenya
Background: The Global Youth Gathering takes place every two years in Nairobi, in conjunction with the biennial regular session of the UNEP Governing Council. It brings together the Tunza Youth Advisory Council and youth leaders from around the world, and accords them a platform to influence the decisions of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environmental Forum (GC/GMEF) and to participate in the Global Civil Society Forum.The participants are expected to review and provide inputs to the Governing Council documents, participate in the Global Civil Society Forum and the Governing Council. The Gathering also provides young people with an avenue to meet with UNEP staff to discuss environmental issues, and review their role and expectations in the implementation of the second Tunza strategy.

2009 GYG and Subsequent Events:

The fourth GYG will bring together a total of 20 youth comprising 11 Tunza Youth Advisors, 6 Youth leaders from the six UNEP regions and 3 youth from Kenya and the indigenous group. The Gathering will take place from 11-13 February 2009 and will also be attended by the Tunza Focal Points from the UNEP Regional Offices and Divisions. The participants will discuss their inputs to the GC agenda, and will review the implementation of the new (2009 -2014) Tunza strategy on the engagement and involvement of young people in environmental issues and in UNEP’s work. Specifically the objectives of the GYG are to:

* Provide a youth statement to the UNEP Governing Council on the state of the environment on the GC themes of globalization and the environment, and environmental governance;
* Provide an avenue for youth participation in decision making process and environmental policy development;
* Provide participants with a better understanding of the threats facing our fragile environment and how youth in conjunction with UNEP, industry, governments, and civil societies may take preventative measures against these;
* Discuss the implementation of the second Tunza Strategy;
* Increase the profile and visibility of the important work that youth are doing around the world to governments and the media.

After the Gathering, eight Youth Advisors and youth leaders will participate in the Global Civil Society Forum from 14 to 15 February and in the GC/GMEF sessions from 16 to 20 February. The six Advisors will articulate the views and concerns of young people to the deliberations of the GCSF and GC/GMEF. In the months preceding the GC, the six Advisors will collate the inputs and comments of youth from around the world and coordinate the development of a youth statement to the Governing Council.

DCPI will organize the Youth Gathering in close collaboration with the Tunza Youth Advisory Council, UNEP Tunza Focal Points and the Major Groups Branch. The attached agenda for GYG has been developed after a wide consultation with the youth.

For additional information, contact: Theodore Oben (+254 724 255 247), Cecilia Kibare (+254 722 832 683), Joyce Sang (+254 721 705 835), or Alice Chege (+254 722 325 773).