A/HRC/39/33 35/14 on youth and human rights in June 2017. Furthermore, the first session of the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law was devoted to the role of youth in public decision-making, as was the tenth session of the Forum on Minority Issues. C. United Nations architecture on youth 26. In recent years, young people have gained strong traction at the United Nations due to the particular challenges that they face and the opportunities that engaging them can bring in terms of social progress and change. The Secretary-General identified working with and for young people as one of the Organization’s top priorities. The SecretaryGeneral has expressed his full commitment to empowering young people and increasing their participation in society and their access to education, training and jobs and has requested the support of all to his Envoy on Youth in advancing youth rights. 27. In June 2017, Jayathma Wickramanayake (Sri Lanka) was appointed Envoy of the Secretary-General on Youth. The Envoy works to expand the youth engagement and advocacy efforts of the United Nations across all four pillars of work — sustainable development, human rights, peace and security and humanitarian action — and serves as a representative of and adviser to the Secretary-General. She is the youngest member of the Secretary-General’s senior management team and plays a catalytic role in harmonization efforts in order to advance youth issues across the United Nations system in a coherent and coordinated way, working closely with United Nations agencies, Governments, civil society, youth organizations and networks, academia and media stakeholders. 28. The United Nations Focal Point on Youth/United Nations Programme on Youth, within the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, aims to build awareness of the global situation of young people, as well as promote their rights and aspirations, and works towards greater participation of young people in decision-making as a means of achieving peace and development. It produces the World Youth Report, which focuses on particular thematic aspects related to youth, such as civil engagement, youth and migration and youth and employment. 29. A large number of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes work on youth issues within their specific mandates. In addition, the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development is a network of United Nations entities that aims to increase the effectiveness of United Nations work on youth development by strengthening collaboration in this area among all relevant entities. 30. At the request of the Secretary-General, a United Nations strategy on youth led by the Envoy, in coordination with the Co-Chairs and members of the Network, was under development at the time of writing. The strategy is envisioned to cut across the United Nations pillars of sustainable development, human rights and peace and security, reflecting the Secretary-General’s vision on prevention, and address key thematic priorities around which the United Nations system will unite in order to strengthen its efforts and facilitate increased impact to advance the needs, agency and rights of young people around the world. V. Challenges and discrimination against youth 31. The transition from childhood to adulthood, from dependence to autonomy, occurs at different times in relation to different rights. For example, in the labour market, in education and in sexual and reproductive health, independence and autonomy are achieved at different moments, hence the importance of balancing protection needs with empowerment and evolving capacities. At the same time, the establishment of age limits and minimum ages in legislation can lead to inconsistencies and restrictions resulting from the use of different thresholds and may restrict certain rights while not offering enough 7

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