Co-submitters are any delegates who have either participated in the construction of this resolution (e.g. merging, contributing clauses) or alternatively have signed that they would like to see this resolution debated in committee.

FORUM: The Special Conference on Youth
THE QUESTION OF: Adequate Employment Conditions for Youth
SUBMITTED BY: The United States of America
CO-SUBMITTED BY: Panama, Guyana, Russia, Algeria, and Côte d'Ivoire

THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE ON YOUTH,

Recognizing the vital role that youth employment plays in fostering economic growth, social stability, and individual empowerment,

Deeply concerned by the persistent global challenges faced by young workers, including exploitative working conditions, inadequate wages, lack of social protections, and limited access to career development opportunities,

1. Recommends for the establishment of a UN sub body to oversee the implementation of this resolution under the auspices of UNICIEF, the ILO, and the UNDP to be called the United Nations Commission on Youth Employment Rights (UNCYER) with the mandate of:

a. hosting a biennial conference to be held in New York, aimed at facilitating dialogue, knowledge sharing, and coordination among member states, international organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders on best practices and innovative approaches to improving employment conditions for youth, an outcome of which being a published report to the General Assembly, including but not limited to:
i. providing a platform for the exchange of experiences, lessons learned, and success stories in implementing policies and programs that enhance youth employment conditions between governments, UN agencies, NGOs, academia, and private sector entities
ii. drafting recommendations and action plans based on the outcomes of the conference to guide future efforts and initiatives in improving employment conditions for youth globally
b. creating a reporting framework to work under the sub body to document instances of reported inadequate employment conditions for youth wherein it outlines procedures for submission, verification, and review of reports, ensuring confidentiality and protection of reporting individuals, and requiring a designated oversight body to assess reports and recommend appropriate corrective measures in accordance with applicable international labour laws and youth employment policies;

2. Encourages the establishment of a Global and Regional Public Awareness Initiative on Youth under the auspices and monitored by UNCYER, ensuring a widespread, effective, and targeted distribution of information through various digital and physical media channels, with the aims of:
a. enhancing youth access to employment opportunities by:
i. establishing a digital platform in collaboration with social media companies, job recruitment agencies, and educational institutions, providing real-time access to job postings, internship opportunities, and vocational training programs,
ii. supporting the creation of government-led employment schemes and private-sector collaborations that offer financial incentives to companies hiring young workers,
iii. promoting technical and vocational education as a viable alternative to traditional academic paths, particularly in developing regions where employment opportunities for graduates may be limited,
b. engaging educational institutions in preparing youth for the workforce by:
i. integrating career-readiness programs into school curricula, equipping students with essential job market skills such as financial literacy, digital competency, and entrepreneurship training in conjunction with matching curricula to the changing market demands
ii. providing strong guidance and counselling programs to ensure that students make informed decisions about their future employment
iii. organizing job fairs, industry workshops, and mentorship programs in collaboration with business leaders and professionals to facilitate direct engagement between youth and potential employers,
c. ensuring the effective dissemination of campaign messages by:
i. utilizing all forms of media, including but not limited to social media campaigns, television and radio broadcasts, printed materials such as biodegradable pamphlets and billboards, and direct community engagement initiatives
ii. coordinating with local and regional media outlets to adapt campaign messages to cultural and linguistic contexts, ensuring maximum outreach and relatability
iii. establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of the campaign, adjusting strategies as needed to enhance effectiveness and long-term sustainability;

3. Calls for the creation of the UN Taskforce on the Mitigation of Inadequate Employment Conditions for Youth (MIECY) comprising experts from member states and international organizations to coordinate efforts, share best practices, and advocate for policy reforms aimed at improving employment conditions for youth, including but not limited to:
a. developing a structured mechanism for proactively investigating and identifying instances of inadequate employment conditions for youth, ensuring transparency, impartiality, and adherence to international labour standards, which includes:
i. conducting independent field research, workplace assessments, and labour market analyses to uncover exploitative practices affecting young workers
ii. deploying expert task forces to regions and industries with high risks of youth labour rights violations to collect data and assess conditions on the ground
iii. collaborating with labour organisations, academia, and civil society to identify trends and systemic issues related to inadequate employment conditions
iv. compiling findings into comprehensive reports with evidence-based recommendations for policy reforms and enforcement actions to enhance youth employment protections globally
b. calling upon member states to endorse and support the mandate of MIECY by providing technical expertise and capacity-building assistance to strengthen the operational capabilities of the task force by developing a comprehensive action plan with clear objectives, timelines, and performance indicators, primarily focusing on:
i. conducting research and data collection to identify disparities and challenges in youth employment across different regions
ii. making evidence-based interventions and policy recommendations to address identified gaps in labour rights, workplace protections, and fair wages for young workers
iii. establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress, assess the impact of interventions, and adjust strategies as needed
c. establishing partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, and international agencies, to leverage resources and expertise for:
i) strengthening labour market systems and workplace protections to ensure fair and decent employment conditions for youth
ii) scaling up successful interventions and best practices through knowledge sharing and peer learning initiatives
iii) advocating for policy reforms and investments in youth employment at national and international levels to prioritize the needs of young workers
d. requesting UNCYER to investigate any violations of ILO Convention No 182 - Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999), UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and any other relevant international laws, conventions or charters that promote the provision of adequate employment conditions for youth that may arise as a result of the investigations of this task force.