Youth for Human Rights: Opportunities to Engage and Advocate
On June 12, 2025, VIDES International and IIMA Human Rights Office organized an online webinar titled “Youth for Human Rights: Opportunities to Engage and Advocate”, run by Maria D’Onofrio, IIMA and VIDES Advocacy Officer in Geneva.
The webinar highlighted the importance of including the perspective of young people and promoting their participation in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).
Following the welcoming and opening remarks, the webinar started with an informative presentation on the Human Rights Council. Afterwards, the short video “IIMA and VIDES Youth Human Rights Agenda” introduced participants on the strong commitment of both organizations to promote youth empowerment through human rights at the local and international level.
The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States established in 2006 by the General Assembly.
It’s responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations. The HRC gathers 3 times per year (Sessions in February-March, June-July, and September-October) at the United Nations in Geneva.
The presentation also dealt with the role of the civil society within the HRC.
In fact, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can actively engage with the Human Rights Council through different forms of participations, including submitting written and oral statements, replying to call for inputs issued by the OHCHR, organizing side events and attending HRC sessions in person and online through the UN-WebTV.
The second part thematically dealt with Achievements and Upcoming Opportunities for Youth Advocacy within the HRC.
Since 2011, IIMA and VIDES Human Rights Office in Geneva worked to ensure that youth rights are properly addressed within the HRC, in order to empower youth to become agents for change in society.
Therefore, several events were organized and other advocacy actions were undertaken throughout the years. An important milestone was achieved in June 2016 when the first HRC resolution 32/01 on “Youth and human rights” was adopted by consensus.
Since then, every two years a resolution is adopted addressing crosscutting and specific human rights challenges affecting young people around the world. The latest resolution 57/30 of October 2024, established a panel focusing on “the role of youth in fostering peaceful societies and creating an enabling environment to the enjoyment of human rights by all”, to be held during the 60th HRC session (8 September – 8 October 2025)
The same resolution requests the UN Office on the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to conduct a detailed study on the impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people and to submit the study to the Council for consideration prior to its 63rd session in September-October 2026. To collect information there will be an “call for inputs” by the end of 2025.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, where the participants had the chance to ask more specific questions.
Let’s engage together to promote youth rights in our communities and at the UN!