The GFMD Youth Stakeholder Network
Youth participation in the GFMD started under the Swedish Chairmanship in 2013 and has steadily grown over the years. Originally coordinated through the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, in 2017 a dedicated Working Group on Migration was established to bring the voice of youth to migration fora at international level. In 2021, having reached over 179 organizations representing 88,000 youth across the world, the Group re-established itself as the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP), the youth-led constituency for migration issues.
Formalized Youth Participation
The GFMD Steering Group formalized the participation of youth as a mandated stakeholder of the Forum in June 2021, recognizing MYCP as the official body for the self-organized participation by children and youth in the GFMD.
Youth engagement in the GFMD is facilitated through various structures, including Member States, the three Mechanisms, and GFMD Observers. The inclusion of children and youth as panelists and speakers at GFMD events is encouraged, and youth preparatory spaces linked to the Summit are established. The modalities of youth participation in GFMD activities are defined in collaboration with each individual mechanism or structure, with MYCP acting as a source and coordinator of youth involvement.
Youth Forums
Over the past years, Youth Forums have been organized as preparatory events to the GFMD Summit. These are capacity building opportunities for young people, composed of youth leaders, young migrants, organization and government members, attending the Summit as youth representatives, brought together to discuss migration issues, priorities and solutions. Youth Forums include skills workshops, and preparatory roundtables, and feature expert speakers from UN agencies, prominent stakeholders, and champion countries to support the discussions.
For more information, please visit the MYCP's website www.migrationyouthchildrenplatform.org or write to migrationgfp@umgcy.org.