World Youth Alliance
Encyclopedia
The World Youth Alliance (WYA) is an international, non-governmental
, non-profit
youth organization which works to promote the dignity of the person at the international and grassroots
level. World Youth Alliance works to build solidarity between developed and developing nations. In 1999, the World Youth Alliance was founded in New York City
at the United Nations
.
World Youth Alliance recognizes that the intrinsic dignity
of the person is the foundation of every human right and that dignity is independent of any individual condition and therefore no human community can grant or rescind dignity. The charter of WYA states that authentic development of society can occur "only in a culture that fosters integral human development
- characterized by physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional growth, in a climate of respect for the human person and the family."
(ICPD+5). At a conference convened to discuss the needs of the world’s people, basic needs including access to clean water, sanitation
, education
, nutrition
, health care
, and employment
were not addressed. A young 21 year old, Anna Halpine and a few others went back into the assembly the next morning and distributed flyers which stated that these young people did not represent all the youth of the world. She called for a discussion on topics addressing basic human rights
and necessities. The statement was well-received by many delegations and she was requested to maintain a permanent presence at the United Nations
, as well as to work with young people from the delegates’ countries. The necessity of a strong and thoughtful youth-voice on issues was apparent, and the World Youth Alliance was founded.
Bratislava
, Slovakia
2001
Declaration on the Human Person
Toronto
, Canada
2002
Declaration on Responsible Stewardship
Johannesburg
, South Africa
2002
Declaration on HIV/AIDS
New York
, USA 2003
Statement on Human Cloning
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2003
Declaration on the Family
Brussels
, Belgium
2004
Statement on Woman
New York, USA 2005
Declaration on Solidarity
Cologne
, Germany
2005
Declaration on Good Governance
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2006
Declaration on Development
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2007
Statement on the Uses of Assisted Reproductive Technologies
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2008
Declaration on the Philosophy of Human Rights
UN Headquarters, New York USA 2009
Declaration on Maternal Health
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2010
Declaration on Population and Economics
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2011
WYA written statement for the 2011 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
228 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
USA
Phone: +1 212 585 0757
Fax: +1 212 585 0785
P.O. Box 24021, 00100
Nairobi
, Kenya
Tel.: +254 20 2250 754
Africa@wya.net
11 JP Laurel Street,
Xavier Ville, Loyola Heights
Quezon City 1108
Philippines
T/F:+632 433 07 15
asiapacific@wya.net
Rue Belliard 23A, bte 6
B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
Phone: +32 2 732 7605
Fax: +32 2 732 7889
Europe@wya.net
Insurgentes Sur 950 * 1er. Piso
Col. Del Valle * C.P.03100
Mexico D.F.
*
Phone: +52 (55) 53407908
latinamerica@wya.net
228 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
USA
Phone: +1 212 585 0757
Fax: +1 212 585 0785
North America@wya.net
WYA's regional blogs
WYA's Twitter profiles
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
youth organization which works to promote the dignity of the person at the international and grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
level. World Youth Alliance works to build solidarity between developed and developing nations. In 1999, the World Youth Alliance was founded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
World Youth Alliance recognizes that the intrinsic dignity
Dignity
Dignity is a term used in moral, ethical, and political discussions to signify that a being has an innate right to respect and ethical treatment. It is an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable rights...
of the person is the foundation of every human right and that dignity is independent of any individual condition and therefore no human community can grant or rescind dignity. The charter of WYA states that authentic development of society can occur "only in a culture that fosters integral human development
Human development (humanity)
Human development in the scope of humanity, specifically international development, is an international and economic development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. People are the real wealth of nations...
- characterized by physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional growth, in a climate of respect for the human person and the family."
History
The World Youth Alliance was founded in 1999 as a reaction of conscience at the United Nations Conference on Population and DevelopmentInternational Conference on Population and Development
The United Nations coordinated an International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt from 5–13 September 1994. Its resulting Program of Action is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund ....
(ICPD+5). At a conference convened to discuss the needs of the world’s people, basic needs including access to clean water, sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, and employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
were not addressed. A young 21 year old, Anna Halpine and a few others went back into the assembly the next morning and distributed flyers which stated that these young people did not represent all the youth of the world. She called for a discussion on topics addressing basic human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and necessities. The statement was well-received by many delegations and she was requested to maintain a permanent presence at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, as well as to work with young people from the delegates’ countries. The necessity of a strong and thoughtful youth-voice on issues was apparent, and the World Youth Alliance was founded.
WYA Declarations and Statements
Bratislava Youth DeclarationBratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
2001
Declaration on the Human Person
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
2002
Declaration on Responsible Stewardship
Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
2002
Declaration on HIV/AIDS
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA 2003
Statement on Human Cloning
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2003
Declaration on the Family
Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
2004
Statement on Woman
New York, USA 2005
Declaration on Solidarity
Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
2005
Declaration on Good Governance
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2006
Declaration on Development
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2007
Statement on the Uses of Assisted Reproductive Technologies
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2008
Declaration on the Philosophy of Human Rights
UN Headquarters, New York USA 2009
Declaration on Maternal Health
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2010
Declaration on Population and Economics
UN Headquarters, New York, USA 2011
WYA at the United Nations
WYA written statement for the 2010 United Nations Commission on the Status of WomenWYA written statement for the 2011 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Headquarters
World Youth Alliance Headquarters228 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
USA
Phone: +1 212 585 0757
Fax: +1 212 585 0785
Africa
World Youth Alliance AfricaP.O. Box 24021, 00100
Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
Tel.: +254 20 2250 754
Africa@wya.net
Asia Pacific
World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific11 JP Laurel Street,
Xavier Ville, Loyola Heights
Quezon City 1108
Philippines
T/F:+632 433 07 15
asiapacific@wya.net
Europe
World Youth Alliance EuropeRue Belliard 23A, bte 6
B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
Phone: +32 2 732 7605
Fax: +32 2 732 7889
Europe@wya.net
Latin America
World Youth Alliance Latin AmericaInsurgentes Sur 950 * 1er. Piso
Col. Del Valle * C.P.03100
Mexico D.F.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
*
Phone: +52 (55) 53407908
latinamerica@wya.net
North America
World Youth Alliance North America228 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
USA
Phone: +1 212 585 0757
Fax: +1 212 585 0785
North America@wya.net
External links
- Official website
- Official WYA statement for the 2008 United Nations Commission on Population and Development
WYA's regional blogs
- World Youth Alliance Africa Regional Blog
- World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific Regional Blog
- World Youth Alliance Europe Regional Blog
- World Youth Alliance Latin America Regional Blog
- World Youth Alliance North America Regional Blog
WYA's Twitter profiles