Young people have a critical role to play in the unprecedented challenges that the world is facing today. They should be active participants in shaping their lives and directing their futures. They are at the forefront of change and innovation and have
the spirit to make things happen.
WHO recognizes and involves youth as partners, stakeholders and changemakers in its work and is committed to engaging with youth in many different ways through initiatives like:
- the Youth Council, which brings together youth networks from health and non-health backgrounds from all over the world to provide advice to the WHO Director-General on global health and other health and development issues.
- the Global Health Workforce Network (GWHN) Youth Hub is an interprofessional community of practice, hosted by the Health Workforce Department. The focus of the hub is to systematically include youth health workforce issues related to employment,
practice and the work environment in the health and social care sector.
- the Global Youth Mobilization, which works together with the Big Six and the UN Foundation to empower young people as a driving force in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Local Solutions, young people around the world are driving
change and implementing solutions.
- the Global Model WHO, organized by the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO), provides an authentic student-led
simulation of the World Health Assembly (WHA) to high school and university students from all over the world.
- the WHO Briefing Centre provides an educational service to students and young professionals from a variety of disciplines through interactive briefing sessions (face-to-face or virtual) on public health topics.
Young people’s ideas, skills and contributions continue to enrich institutions and processes, and their engagement is central to the success of policies and programs aimed at improving young people’s health and well-being.
WHO is committed to engage and partner with young people everywhere and find the best ways to empower them, support their action, promote partnerships and ensure their recognition and visibility. More than ever, we need the ideas, the energy and the leadership
of young people to build a healthier, safer and fairer future.