Children and Youth Assembly

Children and Youth Assembly and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda

The Children and Youth Assembly is a one-day inter-generational and inter-stakeholder forum which aims to provide a platform for young people to share experiences and knowledge, showcase solutions and initiatives, and develop partnerships to make cities and human settlements more equitable, inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The event aimed to change the perception of the role of young people in shaping sustainable urban development, and to explore opportunities for them to play meaningful roles in the implementation, follow up, and review of the New Urban Agenda.

The Assembly consisted of plenary sessions, roundtables, and break-out sessions for group discussion and training. Participation in the Assembly was split into two sections: one for child participants (under 16 years old) and the other for youth and other stakeholders.

The “Children’s Section” focused on urban issues and solutions impacting urban children, and featured art and design, technology, and debate. The “Youth and Other Stakeholders Section” was divided into three streams: “Science, Technology and Innovation,” “Children and Youth in the New Urban Agenda,” and “the Stakeholder Stream,” which enabled a diverse range of youth activists, young scientists, and urban experts to network, exchange ideas, and to develop partnerships toward the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Ultimately, this Assembly highlighted how -- as leaders of today and tomorrow -- young people should be empowered, included, and recognized as agents of change in fostering a more sustainable urban future for all. The key recommendations and outputs of the Assembly informed a “Children’s Charter” and “Quito Youth Commitments,” to be shared at the Habitat III Conference.  

Objectives of the Assembly

• Highlight and celebrate the contributions of children and youth to the Habitat III process.
• Provide a platform for youth around the world to share knowledge and solutions, and to make commitments toward the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
• Provide a space for partnerships to be established across generations and stakeholders toward sustainable urban development.
• Promote the role of young people in shaping sustainable human settlement, and create awareness of the importance of their meaningful engagement and contribution to just, equitable, and sustainable cities and human settlement.

Guiding Questions

• What is an “inclusive and smart city,” and what is the role of young people in its design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation?
• What does the “right to the city” mean? What are the rights of children and young people in cities?
• How can young people, the community, and local governments improve urban safety and prevent crime and violence?
• Why is it important for local governments to include children and youth in urban planning, and what mechanisms can the government create to ensure their meaningful engagement?
• How can science, technology, and innovation play key roles in building the evidence base to implement the New Urban Agenda?
• What are the mechanisms available for young people to engage in the follow up and review of the New Urban Agenda? How can we create mechanisms for the engagement of young people into municipal governance systems?
• How are young people already active in developing and implementing sustainable urban initiatives in their communities?
• What are approaches that can be adopted to build partnerships across stakeholder groups and generations to enhance and increase the effectiveness of our role and work in sustainable urban development work and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda?
• How can the outcomes of this session tie into and be reported back to the High Level Poltiical Forum (2017, New York, United States)?

Assembly Follow Up

• How do you propose to monitor the outcomes of this session in order to report back on progress at the 9th Session of the World Urban Forum (2018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)?

PROGRAMME

9.00AM - 10:00AM Opening Ceremony (Joint Opening with Women Assembly) 
Agora

10.00AM - 5:00PM Children’s Section  
National Library

10:00 - 11:00 Youth + Others Section

10.00 - 11:00 Inter-Stakeholder Plenary
R17 (2/F)

11.00am Break

11.15AM - 3:45AM Science Technology & Inovation

11:15AM - 12:00PM Introduction
R9

12:00PM - 1:00PM Health
R9

12:00PM - 1:00PM Movement of People
R10

1:00PM - 2:00PM Lunch

2:00PM - 3:00PM Urban Resilience
R9

2:00PM - 3:00PM Infrastructure for Inclusivity
R10

3:00PM - 3:45PM Closing Session
R9

11.15AM - 3:45AM Children & Youth in the New Urban Agenda 

11:15AM - 12:00PM Right to the City
R11

12:00PM - 1:00PM Follow Up and Review Mechanisms
R11

1:00PM - 2:00PM Lunch

2:00PM - 3:45PM Sustainable Urban Development Youth Initiatives
R11

11.15AM - 3:45AM Stakeholders 

11:15AM - 1:00PM Civil Society Dialogue
R17 (2/F)

1:00PM - 2:00PM Lunch

2:00PM - 3:45PM Young Mayor's Roundtable
R17 (2/F)

3:45PM - 4:00PM Break

4:00PM - 5:00PM Closing Plenary
R17 (2/F)

5:00PM - 5:30PM Closing Ceremony
Teatro Nacional

5:30PM End of Event

Further detailed information from the corrdinating partners attached.