Youth Representatives

Promoting the participation of young people, strengthening partnerships with youth, and enhancing their capacity to act have long been central pillars of UNESCO’s agenda.

To better integrate the perspectives and concerns of young people across the fields of activity of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO, an expert advisory body (Jugendfachbeirat) was established at the Commission in 2006. The Board addresses youth-related issues and fosters dialogue among stakeholders from youth work, education, and youth policy in Austria.

Since 2019, this approach has been further strengthened through the Youth Representative Programme of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO. The two Youth Representatives are primarily responsible for raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030, human rights, and selected UNESCO agendas at the national level. Their activities also include active participation in national and international working groups and events, as well as chairing the Commission’s Youth Advisory Board. Youth Representatives are appointed for a two-year term, with mandates overlapping by one year to ensure continuity. The youth programme of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO is made possible through the financial support of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Since 2023, within the framework of a cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism and the Austrian Commission for UNESCO, the Youth Representatives have also placed a stronger focus on SDG 4.7. The aim is to reflect on developments in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education from a youth perspective and to support stakeholders in the youth sector in better integrating this perspective into implementation measures.

More information on projects and activities is available on the German version of this page.

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Contact:

• E-Mail: youthrep@unesco.at
• Instagram: @unesco_youth_at