Empowerment: The Rights of Young People and the United Nations System

10.6298/ILR.2015.4.7

Abubakarr Jalloh

Children ； Youth ； United Nations ； Rights ； Empowerment

International Leisure Review

4卷1期（2015 / 03 / 01）

157 - 184

英文

The rights of young people have long been a focus of national and inter-governmental entities. Advancing and protecting the human rights of children and youth is essential to their growth/development and livelihood, and thus serve as the foundation for empowering them. This paper discusses the concept of empowerment of young people with a particular focus on the United Nations system's (UN) strategies. Specifically, it explores the issue of empowerment of young people within the context of advancing and protecting their rights. This is because, a rightbased discussion within the context of empowerment of young people with a particular focus on the UN system's strategies is essential in understanding this issue. The concept of empowerment is based on the efforts of society (both the informal and formal sectors) to provide the opportunities for children and youth to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities. The most commonly cited form of empowerment is based on the notion of participation and skills building and development. Analysis of the UN's strategies on empowering young people is largely centered on skills building and participation. Skills building included areas such as education and vocational/technical training, whereas participation largely represent active involvement of young people in the works and activities of the organization, in particular on the issues affecting them.