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30 Years of the World Programme of Action for Youth

A young woman stands by a table in a conference room participating in a conversation with young people around her.
Participants in an intergovernmental meeting. Photo: UN Youth Office/Joel Sheakoski

A milestone moment

2025 marks a historic year for youth at the United Nations.

It has been 30 years since the — the first action plan on policies and programmes for youth — was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1995.

The anniversary also coincides with several other milestones, including 80 years since the creation of the United Nations, three years since the , one year since the adoption of the Pact for the Future, and the halfway point of Youth2030, the UN Youth Strategy.

Together, these moments offer a powerful opportunity to unite past progress with renewed global commitment for the youth agenda.

This is more than a reflection on the past — it is a call to action for our future.

A high-level meeting at the United Nations

To mark this occasion, in accordance with , the President of the General Assembly is convening a high-level plenary meeting on Thursday, 25 September 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York, under the theme, "World Programme of Action for Youth at 30: Accelerating Global Progress Through Intergenerational Collaboration."

This event will bring together UN Member States, young people, civil society, UN entities, and other stakeholders to:

  • Take stock of what has been achieved over the last 30 years
  • Share good practices and innovations for advancing the implementation of WPAY
  • Identify current challenges and actionable solutions
  • Chart the way forward through intergenerational collaboration.

The meeting will be open to the public via livestream on .

Event Programme

The high-level meeting is designed to spotlight ways in which meaningful youth participation and intergenerational collaboration can advance progress on WPAY and the broader youth agenda.

Below is a look at the structure of the day.

  • 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. (Conference Room 4)
    • Opening segment
  • 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Conference Room 4)
    • Plenary segment
  • 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Conference Room 3)
    • Panel 1: Advancing Implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to Leave No One Behind
  • 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
    • Lunch break
  • 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Conference Room 4)
    • Plenary segment continues
  • 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Conference Room 3)
    • Panel 2: Full, Effective and Meaningful Youth Participation, at National and International Levels, For the Benefit of Current and Future Generations.
  • 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Conference Room 4)
    • Closing segment

The plenary segments will feature statements from governments, youth delegates, UN leaders, and other key partners.

The intergenerational panels will spotlight real-world experiences and examples of how youth and older generations are working together to create change.

In closing the meeting, the President of the General Assembly will share a summary of key takeways.

For more information, click here to read the Concept Note for the event.

Who can participate?

Participation is open to:

  • All UN Member States and Observer States
  • Youth representatives and civil society organizations with accreditation
  • UN entities, agencies and specialized bodies
Registration for in-person participation is now open until 15 August 2025.

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The meeting will also be livestreamed globally via .

Looking ahead

At a time of rapid global change, rising inequality and conflict, and growing frustration with status quo systems, accelerating the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth is more important than ever.

The 30th Anniversary of WPAY is more than a milestone — it’s a chance to reinvigorate global efforts to create a world where young people:

  • Can meaningfully shape the decisions and policies that affect their lives
  • Have equal access to rights, resources and opportunities
  • Are engaged as full partners in building a more just and sustainable future.

We invite young people, allies, institutions and governments to join us in making this moment count.

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Register to attend the event at UN Headquarters in New York by 15 August 2025:

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Follow @unyouthaffairs on social media for updates, highlights and more opportunities to engage.

What is the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY)?

In 1995, the United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to young people by adopting the World Programme of Action for Youth. It was the first global framework of its kind — offering practical guidance for both national action and international support to improve the lives of young people.

WPAY outlines 15 priority areas critical to the well-being and empowerment of youth. They encompass both long-standing issues and those that have evolved with time, including:

  • Education
  • Employment
  • Hunger and poverty
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Drug abuse
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Leisure-time activities
  • Girls and young women
  • Full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making
  • Globalization
  • Information and communications technology
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Armed conflict
  • Intergenerational issues.

The Programme was updated in 2007 to address emerging challenges and opportunities and continues to serve as a guiding tool for youth-focused policies and programmes around the world.

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