13 November 1981

57th plenary meeting

Efforts and measures for securing the implementation and the enjoyment by youth of human rights, particularly the right to education and to work

The General Assembly,

Mindful of the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

Recalling its resolution 34/l5l of l7 December l979, by which it decided to designate l985 as International Youth Year:

Participation, Development, Peace, Recognizing the profound importance of the role of youth for all-round development of each country,

Convinced of the need for further action aimed at the codification and implementation, whenever possible, of the rights of youth with special regard for the right to work, as stipulated in article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as one of the fundamental human rights,

Aware of the fact that the unemployment of youth is a hindrance to the full participation of young people in the socio-economic life of their country, limits their ability to participate in the development process and is, furthermore, a source of increased social ills, and in this regard emphasizing the importance of the secondary and higher education of youth as well as of its access to appropriate technical, vocational guidance and training programmes,

Considering it necessary that States, and also international organizations and their bodies should examine in a more comprehensive, systematic and effective manner ways and means to secure the implementation and the enjoyment by youth of human rights, particularly the right to education and to work, aimed at solving the problem of youth unemployment,

1. Calls upon all States in view of the forthcoming International Youth Year, to adopt appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures, for the implementation and the enjoyment by youth of human rights, particularly the right to education and to work aimed at solving the problem of youth unemployment;

2. Appeals to the respective governmental and non-governmental organizations to pay during the preparation and observance of the International Youth Year increased attention to the securing and realization of the basic right of young people to education and vocational training and to work;

3. Requests the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on Human Rights, as well as other relevant bodies of the United Nations and specialized agencies, to give continuous attention to the problems of the unemployment of youth and to resolving them;

4. Requests the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year to ensure that, in the context of the preparations for the Year, systematic and continuous attention is given to the efforts aimed at the promotion of human rights and their enjoyment by youth, particularly the right to education and vocational training and to work, with a view to resolving the problem of youth unemployment.