28 May 1987

17th plenary meeting

Youth in the contemporary world

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1979/16 of 9 May 1979, 1981/16 of 6 May 1981, 1983/14 of 26 May 1983 and 1985/23 of 29 May 1985,

Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 40/14 of 18 November 1985, by which the Assembly requested the Commission for Social Development to examine, on a regular basis, specific youth issues, in keeping with the objectives of the International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace, and 41/97 of 4 December 1986, by which the Assembly called upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to exert all possible efforts for the implementation of the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth,

Recognizing the profound importance of the direct participation of youth in public life and the valuable contribution that youth can make in all sectors of society, as well as the willingness of youth to express its ideas concerning the building of a better and more just world,

Convinced that the opportune and significant impetus generated by the activities of the International Youth Year should be maintained and reinforced with appropriate follow-up action, particularly at the national level,

Recognizing that the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth provide a conceptual framework for a long-term strategy in the field of youth,

1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his report on the evaluation of the results of the International Youth Year:

Participation, Development, Peace;

2. Expresses its satisfaction at the results obtained at the local, national, regional and international levels during the preparations for and observance of the International Youth Year;

3. Considers that an adequate follow-up to the International Youth Year should take place in order to maintain the momentum achieved during its preparation and observance, within the mandate of the Commission for Social Development;

4. Considers it appropriate for the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat to perform the following activities within existing resources:

(a) Review continuously the situation of youth;

(b) Provide an overall assessment of ongoing activities on the basis of results from national committees;

(c) Evaluate the implementation of the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth;

(d) Examine ways and means to further develop co-operation in the field of youth;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-first session an interim report on the stage of implementation of the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth, so that the Commission may adopt action-oriented recommendations;

6. Decides that the Commission for Social Development, at its thirty-first session, shall discuss the question of youth in the contemporary world as part of the review of the follow-up of the International Youth Year.