León, Guanajuato, August 27th, 2010
Guanajuato Declaration
The Guanajuato Declaration is the outcome of wide consultations and
contributions of the participant governments during working sessions at the
World Youth Conference and of pre‐conferences at Strasbourg, France; Salvador
de Bahía, Brazil; and Abuja, Nigeria; four meetings of the International Steering
Committee and inputs sent by its members; open online world‐wide
consultations; meetings of the Mexican National Committee for the WYC and
internal consultations within the Mexican Government as well as preconferences
organized throughout Mexico with the participation of young
people, civil society organizations and local government entities; and discussions
with governments through their permanent representations to the UN. The
Government Forum of the World Youth Conference also received the NGO
Statement for the WYC 2010.
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PREAMBLE
We, the Ministers of Youth and other representatives from the governments participating in the
World Youth Conference, having met in City of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico from 25 till 27 August
2010;
Recognizing that young people are key actors in the quest for development, key stakeholders of
the Millennium Development Goals and essentials allies for their achievement and in this regard
recognizing the importance of the High Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on
accelerating progress towards the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals by 2015,
to be held from 20 to 22 of September of 2010;
Recognizing also that all the Millennium Development Goals are interconnected and mutually
reinforcing and underlining the need to pursue these goals through a holistic and comprehensive
approach;
Recognizing further that states have made significant achievements in the social integration of
young people since the declaration in 1985 of the first International Year of Youth, and yet many
important challenges remain in poverty, education, health, employment, technology, culture,
security and conflict, civic engagement, democracy, gender equality and the environment, that
impede integral human development and along with it, prevent the development of nations;
Reaffirming the importance of the World Programme of Action for Youth, and considering the
urgent need of effective implementing it through plans, mechanisms and programs at all levels;
Reaffirming our commitment to promote and protect all human rights, including for young
people, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human
rights instruments;
Recognizing that the current generation of young people is the largest in history and by sheer
numbers and importance, they deserve a central place in efforts to achieve international agreed
developmental goals; including MDGs especially as most developing countries have a high
proportion of young people in their populations and this youth bulge offers countries a rare
chance to make strategic investments to gain a demographic dividend and break the intergenerational
cycle of poverty;
Recognizing also that young people contribute significantly to their families, communities and
society through their creativity, capacity for innovation, altruism, adaptation to change, energy
and optimism, and therefore are relevant actors and strategic partners for development;
Recognizing the need to develop policies and laws that better support the family, contribute to its
stability and take into account its plurality of forms;
Recognizing further the cultural, ethnic, religious and socio‐economic diversities of young people
and the necessity of taking this into consideration in the formulation of actions for the
development of young people;
Conscious of the progress made in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of
women, yet conscious that it is necessary to bear in mind during the implementation of actions for
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development that severe inequalities still persist between women and men and that these are also
reflected in the young population;
Committing ourselves with the objectives of the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual
Understanding (12 August 2010‐ 11 August 2011)1;
FOR THE ABOVE, WE IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES FOR ACTION which arise from the
participation of young people, civil society, representatives from governments and international
development partners;
PUBLIC POLICIES AND INVESTMENT
1. To prioritize increased investments in young people in legal and policy frameworks, and in
national development plans, strategies public policies and institutions and aim to guarantee
the comprehensive development of youth, such as, through the establishment of universal
social protection floors taking into account national circumstances and with the meaningful
participation of young people, as well as to develop or strengthen national systems for
monitoring and evaluation;
POVERTY AND HUNGER
2. Advance economic policies for sustainable growth that reduce income inequality and
guarantee to young people equal opportunities for development, including income, food and
employment and strengthen our efforts to achieve MDG1 goals and targets to eradicate
extreme poverty and hunger;
3. Strengthen policies and programs for overcoming poverty with a view to better incorporate
the developmental needs of young people;
4. Make sustained investments with a life‐cycle approach for developing human capital with
special attention to young people, specially young women and girls living in poverty and social
exclusion;
5. Develop training programmes for youth which improve methods of production and marketing;
6. Discourage the adoption of any unilateral measure, not in accordance with international law
and the Charter of the United Nations that hinders the well‐being and the full enjoyment of all
human rights for all, including young people;
1 General Assembly Resolution A/Res/64/134.
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EDUCATION
7. Promote the enrollment and retention of young people in educational institutions at all levels,
including secondary, technical, vocational, and higher education with special attention to
women and young people living in poverty and in vulnerable situations;
8. Put in place programs for early childhood education, literacy and life‐skills, vocational training
address school drop‐out and offer a second opportunity to young people who have not
completed basic education and strengthen our efforts to achieve MDG 2 goals and targets of
universal primary education;
9. Improve the quality and relevance of educational curricula at all levels and orient educational
programmes towards the comprehensive development of young people that includes:
intercultural, civic and peace education, solidarity, human rights education, education for
sustainable development, comprehensive education on human sexuality, the promotion of
gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as the formulation of competencies
and conditions for employability taking into account necessities of the local context;
10. Invest in quality educational institutions at all levels and continuing teachers training
programmes, as well as the professionalization of persons working with youth;
11. Develop non‐formal educational programmes and recognize or certify non‐formal educational
programs carried out by civil society, especially by young people for young people;
HEALTH
12. Recognize the need to guarantee the full realization of the right to the enjoyment of the
highest attainable level of physical and mental health for young people and strengthen our
efforts to achieve MDGs 4, 5 and 6 goals and targets;
13. Involve young people in programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle, the practice of sports,
physical activity, rest , leisure and other healthy habits among them; as well as raise
awareness of nutrition, eating disorders and obesity;
14. Establish public policies that guarantee young people’s access to health without any
discrimination and increase the quality and coverage of health systems and healthcare
services, including for sexual and reproductive health, reduce maternal morbidity and
mortality, prevention, care, treatment, counseling of young people in order to halt and reverse
the spread of HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, malaria and other
diseases, including non‐communicable diseases;
15. Strengthen or establish, youth‐friendly substance abuse prevention programmes and
affordable treatment and rehabilitation programmes, in order to address the vulnerability of
young people to substance abuse;
EMPLOYMENT
16. Make policies to advance decent work for young people a priority of national development
frameworks and employment policies, and adopt targeted measures to promote decent
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employment among disadvantaged young women and men including policies for first‐time
employment, apprenticeships, internships, contracts for working students, programmes to
promote youth entrepreneurship, skills and employment programmes and measures to
facilitate the transition of young workers from informal to formal employment and from
temporary to stable jobs;
17. Promote policy reforms to protect the right of young people to just and favorable conditions
of work, including fair remuneration and social security, freedom of association; and adopt
measures to combat exploitation in accordance with relevant international instruments;
18. Facilitate the transition of young people from school and academic life to decent work and
invest in programmes that enhance youth employability through skills development and work
experience that respond to the requirements of the labour market;
19. Encourage partnerships among governments, employers organizations, trade unions, the
private sector, institutions of higher education, youth organizations and civil society, to foster
employment opportunities in the labor market, taking in to account regional and national
particularities;
20. Promote programmes to foster youth entrepreneurship;
GENDER EQUALITY
21. Guarantee gender equality, the empowerment of young women and their full enjoyment of all
human rights and strengthen our efforts to achieve MDG 3 on gender equality and the
empowerment of women as well as the objectives encompassed within the gender equalityrelated
dimensions of all the other MDGs;
22. Mainstream a gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
all public policies and programmes relating to young people in order to overcome all forms of
gender base discrimination, in particular discrimination against young women;
23. Guarantee the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, and equal treatment
for all young people in the workplace as well as equal sharing of employment and family
responsibilities between women and men;
24. Develop or strengthen laws, policies and programmes with a holistic approach to address,
prevent, and eradicate all forms of discrimination and violence against young women and girls,
in particular gender‐based violence;
25. Promote the greater involvement of men, young men and boys in measures aimed to prevent
all forms of discrimination and violence against women and achieve gender equality and the
empowerment women, especially young women;
26. Adopt effective measures to combat and prevent the sexual exploitation and trafficking of
persons, especially involving minors and young people;
27. Promote the participation of young women in decision making processes in political, social and
economic activities and the elimination of barriers that limit their full contribution to society;
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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
28. Ensure universal, non‐discriminatory, equitable, safe and affordable access to information and
communications technology to everyone, remove the barriers to bridging the digital divide,
including through transfer of technology and international cooperation on mutually agreed
terms and implement measures to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and
infrastructure to use information and communications technology;
29. Encourage the participation of young people in the generation and distribution of knowledge
through information and communication technologies, as well as to use information and
communication technologies to deepen intercultural dialogue and encourage respect for
social, cultural and religious diversity;
30. Guarantee protection against arbitrary interference with privacy;
31. Promote and support research, development and application of technologies created by
young people;
CULTURE
32. Promote cultural development and creativity of young people respecting their forms and
means of expression and different forms of thought;
33. Promote peaceful coexistence, intercultural dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect for
cultural and religious diversity;
34. Guarantee the respect for young people’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and
religion;
35. Promote the role of the Global Youth Movement for the Alliance of Civilizations in fostering
mutual understanding and respect both locally and globally2;
ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND SECURITY
36. Abide by the principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our
obligations under human rights instruments in all government actions in relation to young
people and consider young women and men as subjects of all rights;
37. Promote the recognition of young people as key actors for development and eliminate their
stigmatization as causes of conflict and violence;
38. Develop policies and programs to identify and address factors that put young people at risk of
engaging in crime and prevent youth violence;
39. Adopt systems of justice specialized for dealing with young people in conflict with the law,
putting as the highest priority their social rehabilitation, reintegration, including through their
participation in education, and training programmes, and using detainment only as a last
recourse, whilst also providing legal remedies for victims;
2 In accordance with General Assembly resolution A/Res/64/14
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40. Implement a wider application of alternatives to imprisonment, restorative justice and other
relevant measures to promote the transfer of young offenders to services outside the criminal
justice system;
41. Enhance comprehensive measures that guarantee the safety of young people, protecting them
from factors of insecurity derived from organized crime, physical violence and drug‐related
crimes;
42. Strengthen and promote the role of young people and youth organizations in building peace in
their communities, countries and regions;
43. Address the issue of youth in situations of armed conflict, post conflict settings and under
occupation in accordance with International Humanitarian Law;
PARTICIPATION
44. Encourage the full and effective participation of young people in the assessment of the
different needs of youth in spaces of co‐decision and public decision‐making in all levels and
areas that affects their lives, inter alia, by supporting the establishment of independent
national youth councils;
45. Ensure that young people have the education, information and skills they need for their
effective participation;
46. Provide opportunities and further strengthen the active participation of young people, with
full respect for their autonomy and their organizations in the design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of public programs and policies on all levels and areas that affect
their lives, including by promoting and reinforcing youth voluntarism and providing adequate
resources;
47. Encourage the interaction of young people globally, by giving support to the establishment of
appropriate platforms and networks for exchange and cooperation;
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
48. Strengthen the participation of young people, as important actors in the protection of
sustainable development and the protection, preservation and improvement of the
environment at the local, national and international levels;
49. Involve young people in programs oriented towards the sustainable development and
sustainable management of natural resources and promote sustainable consumption and use
of natural resources;
50. Support the contribution of youth organizations in policies relating to the preservation of
natural resources, renewable and sustainable energy, environmental sustainability and climate
change through access to adequate education and training;
51. Encourage sustainable development education programs in schools and communities and
promote opportunities for young people to engage in environmentally‐sustainable jobs;
52. Support the creation of youth networks for cooperation on the issue of the environment at
the national and international levels;
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INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
53. Recognize that young migrants represent an asset to sustain economic development in
countries of destination and origin;
54. Adopt comprehensive migration policies that promote and protect the human rights of
migrants, including young migrants in order to maximize the positive effects of migration and
respond to the challenges which migration poses to countries of origin, transit and
destination;
55. Encourage agreements between countries of origin, transit and destination for young people
and young workers to migrate safely, preventing them from being subject to exploitation,
smuggling, trafficking and violence;
56. Promote social integration in countries of destination to enable young migrants to share the
benefits and contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of their
communities;
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
57. Accelerate progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals by assigning greater
importance to youth issues in order to make more visible the situation of young people;
58. Promote the implementation and, as appropriated, reinforce international or regional
agreements and plans on youth;
59. Promote the development of evidence‐based national, regional and international policies,
plans and strategies for youth and the collection, analysis and dissemination of data
disaggregated by gender and age, as well as research on youth issues;
60. Encourage the implementation of national youth policies as well as regional programs on
youth and support national systems for monitoring and evaluation, including by providing
appropriate financial resources and international assistance;
61. Promote the establishment of thematic groups, platforms, associations or networks for
exchange and disseminate evidence and lessons learned in the implementation of youth
policies;
BASED ON THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED, THE PARTICIPATING GOVERNMENTS DECIDE TO:
1. Take necessary measures and work in partnership with civil society, international
organizations and international cooperation agencies to implement the priorities identified in
this Declaration with full and effective participation of youth;
2. Continue the ongoing discussions within the framework of the United Nations General
Assembly regarding the effective implementation of the World Programme of Action for
Youth, as well as strengthening mechanisms of coordination within the United Nations System
to support global, regional and national policies and programmes for youth;
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3. Urge donors and other countries in a position to do so as well as other development partners
to strengthen international cooperation for the development of young people, including by
providing financial assistance;
4. Welcome the initiative of the UN General Assembly to proclaim the International Year of
Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding (12 August 2010 – 11 August 2011), and call on
governments, civil society, the private sector and international cooperation agencies, to
participate actively in all activities related to the Year and in the United Nations Conference on
Youth;
5. Consider discussing an international legal framework that recognizes the specific rights of
young people;
6. Request the United Nations General Assembly to recognize, strengthen and mandate the UN
Inter‐Agency Network on Youth Development to asses and follow up existing declarations,
commitments structures and mechanisms specific to young people, namely the declaration of
the World Youth conference, the world Program of Action for Youth and implementation of
the agreements of the World Youth Conference, the World Program of Action for youth and
the Millennium Development Goals, in relation to Young people.
7. Request the General Assembly of the United Nations to consider at its 65th session this
declaration as a meaningful contribution to the activities of the International Year of Youth
and to the process of reviewing the progress made in achieving the Millennium Development
Goal ten years after their adoption.