The group will deliberate and identify specific goals and targets with respect to youth and each of the priority areas - globalization, employment, education and hunger and poverty. The outcome of the meeting will be incorporated in a report and presented to the 62nd session of the General Assembly.

The international community has long recognized the importance of youth participation and development for economic growth and social transformation. In 1995, United Nations strengthened its commitment to youth development by adopting the “World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond”. The Programme of Action provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national and international support to promote the improved well being and livelihood of youth around the world.

Since the adoption of the Programme of Action, many Governments, international organizations and other stakeholders have taken steps to prioritize youth issues in national development strategies and programmes. However, much of this activity has occurred in the absence of clear guidelines in the form of internatio nally agreed goals and targets to guide investment in youth development.

Recognizing the importance of setting goals and targets for youth development, the Commission for Social Development at its 45th session in February 2007 requested the Secretary General, in consultation with organizations, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to identify goals and targets regarding the World Programme of Action for Youth’s cluster – “youth and the global economy” – which covers the areas of globalization, employment, education and hunger and poverty.

In order to arrive at goals and targets that are comprehensive and that reflect the inputs of all stakeholders, the Division for Social Policy and Development, in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), has invited representatives of the United Nations community, youth organizations and experts in the area of youth development to share in discussions at an interagency expert group meeting on “Goals and Targets for Monitoring the Progress of Youth in the Global Economy”.

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/egm_unhq_may07.htm