Society and young people

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Main page for this area of work

Year of Youth project to focus on training, employment, economic opportunities, and inclusion

Training, employment, economic opportunities and inclusion of the most vulnerable must be among the top priorities for the Commonwealth's Youth Mainstreaming Training Programme.

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7th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development

4 April 2023 to 4 April 2023

Event

The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, will host its 7th annual Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development on 4 April.

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'We cannot afford to fail our children': Secretary-General calls on Commonwealth to act together to end the institutional care of children

The Commonwealth must work together to end the institutional care of children and reform protection services to ensure: “every child is safe, protected and able to reach their full potential”, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has said.

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Commonwealth Youth Networks to hold ‘Townhall’ consultation on Climate and Sustainability

4 March 2023 to 4 March 2023

Event

Two Commonwealth Youth Networks covering climate and sustainability are hosting a virtual consultation for young people to exchange ideas and have input into Commonwealth work on protecting the environment in 2023.

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Commonwealth Youth Work Diploma 'making dreams come true', say graduates

Students collecting their Commonwealth Diploma in Youth Development Work have praised the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

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Commonwealth Secretary-General launches landmark Year of Youth 2023

The Commonwealth Secretariat has officially launched the 2023 Year of Youth – a seminal 12 months devoted to the celebration and empowerment of the 1.5 billion under-30s living in the Commonwealth.

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Year of Youth 2023 – Launch Event

The Commonwealth Secretariat is holding a launch event at Marlborough House to mark the beginning of the Year of Youth 2023 – a seminal 12 months dedicated to action on Commonwealth-wide youth issues.

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Commonwealth webinar highlights solutions for police to better serve people with disabilities

A Commonwealth webinar has highlighted a series of effective solutions, which governments and law enforcement agencies can take to better understand and meet the needs of people with disabilities.

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Simplilearn in partnership with the Commonwealth launches over 2,000 e-learning courses for young people across the Caribbean

The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with global digital skills provider Simplilearn, today releases over 2,000 free e-learning courses to young learners in the Caribbean, giving them access to crucial digital economy skills.

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Webinar on inclusive and quality police services for people with disabilities in Africa

2 December 2022 to 2 December 2022

Webinar

The Commonwealth Secretariat's Human Rights Unit will host a webinar on 2 December to examine effective solutions for eliminating all forms of discrimination faced by people with disabilities when engaging with police in Africa.

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Commonwealth Youth Climate Network launch competition to boost youth-led action

The Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN) have launched a global competition to inspire, empower and reward young people taking action on oceans.

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Commonwealth focusses on collaborative action to build stronger education systems across Africa post Covid

Commonwealth countries must work together to build education systems that are resilient enough to withstand future pandemics and other shocks.

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Marlborough House hosts 25 Indian start-up entrepreneurs for knowledge-sharing session

On 31 October 2022, the Commonwealth Secretariat hosted a delegation of 25 start-up entrepreneurs from India, for a half-day knowledge sharing session at Marlborough House in London.

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Cybercrime and Online Violence Against Women, Girls and Children

25 October 2022 to 25 October 2022

Webinar

The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a hybrid Seminar on 25 October 2022 to discuss the issue of “Online Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the Commonwealth” and hereby invites you to register to attend the seminar online.

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Blog: Beyond commitments, investing in youth mental health services must be a priority

Blog by the Commonwealth Youth Health Network (CYHN)

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Commonwealth works with Antigua and Barbuda to help prioritise the rights of persons with disabilities

This week, the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Human Rights Unit (HRU) is in Antigua and Barbuda to assess the needs of persons with disabilities and mental health conditions and to help ensure their inclusion in public policy and society and the fulfilment of their rights.

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Black History in the Making: A Fireside Chat

7 October 2022 to 7 October 2022

Webinar

October 2022 is being celebrated as Black History Month in the UK under the theme: “Time for Change: Actions not Words.”

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Exciting opportunities for new cohort of young people to join Commonwealth youth networks

With 60% of the Commonwealth’s combined population under the age of 30, the Commonwealth sees young people aged 15 to 29 as assets to a country’s development who should be empowered to realise their potential.

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International Youth Day: Young Sports Ministers unite with Secretary General at 10th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting

Two inspiring young Sports Ministers, who were previously Commonwealth Youth Network (CYC) representatives, met with Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC while at the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (10CSMM) last month.

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Op-ed: Youth is a cross-cutting agenda, and it’s everyone’s business

Op-ed by Kim Allen, Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council

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Nominations open for the special ‘Year of Youth’ edition of the Commonwealth Youth Awards

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Awards, which recognise exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth, has been extended until the 31st October.

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Blog: The rise of youth defending our shared ocean

Blog by Dainalyn Swaby, Ocean Youth Outreach Assistant

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Commonwealth youth leaders speak on inclusivity in post-pandemic world at The People’s Global Summit

Young people from across the Commonwealth were invited to discuss policy issues at The People’s Global Summit on Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind last Thursday.

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Commonwealth Heads declare 2023 the Year of the Youth

Leaders of the 56 Commonwealth countries have demonstrated their commitment to tackling the endemic challenges facing children and young people.

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World Environment Court proposed at meeting of Commonwealth civil society experts ahead of COP27

The Commonwealth People’s Forum — the largest gathering of civil society in the Commonwealth — convened leading climate negotiators and experts from India, Saint Lucia, and Rwanda to discuss how the Commonwealth can deliver climate justice where other mechanisms have failed.

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