HISTORY Youth for Habitat International Network is an umbrella organization operating at the international level through a Secretariat with focal points and resource persons in every region. It was created with the aim of coordinating youth participation in the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) held in Istanbul, from 3-14 June 1996, which was the last UN Summit of the millennium. Youth Association for Habitat and Agenda 21 (YFHIN-Turkey) is serving as the secretariat of the network and implementing projects for Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21 at the national level.

During the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, March 1995), the Secretary General of Habitat II, Dr. Wally N' Dow, got in contact with the youth organizations present at the Summit. He proposed the youth organizations to make their participation in the UN conferences more visible and effective. The Secretary - General of Habitat II committed himself to support young people’s involvement in this endeavor, by promoting their activities towards the Conference and by including the Youth Day (9th June 1996) in the Habitat II' s official agenda. 

Therefore the youth organizations gathered on that occasion decided to create a coordinating body called "Youth for Habitat II", which had the task of informing youth on the possibilities for attending the Conference, on its organization and its issues. During Habitat II, Youth for Habitat II coordinated all youth activities, which brought a positive contribution to the Conference deliberations. 
 After the concrete results achieved during the City Summit, Youth for Habitat II transformed its organizational structure and was renamed as "Youth for Habitat". The International Youth Follow-up for Habitat and Agenda 21 held in Eskisehir-Turkey adopted the name of the organization as "Youth for Habitat International Network." The Secretariat of Youth for Habitat International Network signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS) on 29 May 1998. This partnership protocol is considered to be an important step for youth in the field of human settlements and youth.

As a result of this Memorandum, the Secretariat coordinated the preparation of national reports on “Youth Contributions to the Implementation of the Habitat Agenda” with the participation of youth organizations from Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Senegal and Turkey.

The Network became active participants of major UN conferences geared towards following up of the implementation of Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21.It participated in the follow up of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio+5) in 1997.

Moreover, the Network participated in the 16^th Session of the UN Commission on Human Settlements (CHS); organized the youth parallel programmes during the 17th and 18^th Sessions of CHS, Prepcom for Istanbul+5 as well as during Istanbul+5.

The Secretariat of YFHIN organized the National Coordinators meeting of the Global Meeting of Generations (GMG) in May 2000 in Istanbul, which defined the follow up process of the already commenced actions in order to take better into account the inter-generational perspective in the civil sector.

The Network organized an international summer school on capacity building, environment, human rights and human settlements in September 1999 with the participation of experts and young people from over 20 countries.

The Network also took part in the co-organization of the Youth Forum during the Urban 21, the Global Conference on the Urban Future, organized in Berlin in July 2000, which was submitted as a youth input in the conference proceedings.

The Network continues its endeavor of involving the youth in the follow-up process through international projects and networking.

OBJECTIVES
 

• To raise awareness about Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21, as well as To promote the youth perspective in the implementation of these initiatives at global, regional, national and local levels.

• To encourage local activities on objectives of the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21 where such actions yet do not exist.

• To implement the global aspect into the local level existing activities of the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21.

• To distribute information on the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21 among existing youth Non - Governmental Organizations (NGO) / Community Based Organizations (CBO); international and national youth NGO/CBOs; national youth councils, regional youth councils and other youth NGO entities as well as umbrella organizations.

• To exchange information within the network on fields related to youth such as training, fundraising, communication and networking.

• To promote and encourage international follow-up activities such as conferences, seminars, workshops on the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21 with specific focus on youth issues and contributions.

• To establish contacts with relevant UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs and other partners in order to achieve these objectives.

PRINCIPLES
 

• Youth participation in decision-making processes must increase on global, regional, national and local level, as this will improve society as well as contribute to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21

• Youth NGOs/CBOs must co-operate with other partners in society; still they must be independent when it comes to ideology, political opinions etc.

• The network is based on mutual understanding in cultural diversity, and is neutral in every aspect including political ideology and religion.

• The network will combat discrimination, and will operate according to provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Youth for Habitat International Network is not a decision-making body and can not make political statements. However, it can encourage and promote events, conferences or follow-ups that can make political statements on behalf of the participating NGO/CBOs. The network cannot have any financial obligations or accounts. The network consists of member/connected NGO/CBOs and focal point NGO/CBOs and one of the focal point NGO/CBOs acts as the secretariat for the network. The network co-operates with relevant partners (UN agencies particularly with UNCHS and UNEP, NGO/CBOs and others).

Member/Connected NGO/CBOs
 

• Youth NGO/CBOs with interest in the objectives of the network

• Youth NGO/CBOs become connected NGO/CBOs by committing themselves to undertake the responsibilities of the network (see application form)

• All connected NGO/CBOs will receive information from the secretariat on a regular basis
   

Focal point NGO/CBOs
 

• Youth NGO/CBOs with interest in the objectives of the network, committed to promote and co-ordinate the operations of the network within their region.

• Youth NGO/CBOs become focal point NGO/CBOs by informing the secretariat and by committing themselves to undertake the tasks of being a focal point. 

• All focal point NGO/CBOs will receive information from the secretariat on a regular basis, and they must disseminate this information to relevant NGOs, CBOs in their region as well as they will inform the secretariat about the situation in their region.

Recommended tasks for regional focal points: a) to establish and support sub-regional and national focal points, b) to maintain regular information flow with these focal points and to organize regional and national follow-up meetings, c) to maintain effective and continuous communication with other regional focal points, and to send progress reports to them as well as to the secretariat of the Network every three months.

Secretariat
 

• The secretariat functions will be undertaken by one of the focal point NGO/CBOs

• The secretariat will distribute relevant information to all focal point NGO/CBOs and member/ connected NGO/CBOs, as well as will carry out special responsibility for promoting the objectives of the network

The tasks of the secretariat will focus on organizational matters.

Resource Persons
 

• Resource persons are individuals volunteering to contribute to the operation of the network by giving guidance and support to the regional focal points and to the secretariat.

• Qualifications for being a resource person are eg, experience from work related to Habitat II Conference and implementation of the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21, and youth activities on these issues, as well as contacts within the UN system, governments, private sector and/or NGOs