History of the Major Group on Children and Youth
Broad public participation in implementation is a fundamental prerequisite of sustainable development. Agenda 21 recognizes nine major groups of civil society, and stipulates the need for new forms of participation at all levels to enable a broad-based engagement of all economic and social sectors in making sustainable development happen.
The major groups of civil society, as defined by Agenda 21, are women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, scientific and technological community, and farmers. These groups have participated in meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) as representatives of a variety of different organizations who have been accredited to the United Nations.
The UN-CSD Major Group on Children and Youth bundles individual activists and youth organizations, bringing together young people with a desire to build a more sustainable world within the UNCSD.
The objectives of the MGCY are:
- To advance the role of children and youth within the CSD and related processes;
- To facilitate dialogue and collaboration within its constituency, resulting in group dynamism and unity in diversity;
- To encourage and support dialogue and collaboration between Major Groups and civil society at the CSD.