New Applicants Sought for Yearlong Term of U.S. Youth Observer to the UN

July 16, 2015

New York (July 15, 2015) – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State are now accepting applications for the U.S. Youth Observer to the UN for the 2015-2016 term. The program gives one U.S. citizen age 18 to 25 the opportunity to: see the United Nations in action during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York; attend high-profile UN events throughout the year; and report his or her experiences to U.S. officials, peers, and the world.

“This is a call to action for young Americans who want to make a global difference,” said UNA-USA Executive Director Chris Whatley. “The UN Youth Observer plays a unique role in both representing and promoting the voice of youth on the international stage.”  

In addition to attending events during UN General Assembly week in New York City (Sept 28 – Oct. 2), the individual chosen as the U.S. Youth Observer will take part in meetings of the UN’s Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee (Third Committee) of the General Assembly and travel to the UNESCO Youth Forum and meetings of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Last year the Youth Observer program attracted more than 600 applications from young people throughout the country. Jackson Dougan, a native of Oregon, was chosen to be the third-ever U.S. Youth Observer from 2014-2015. He attended high-profile UN and UN-related events, including the Global Forum on Youth Policies in Baku, Azerbaijan, and spoke to students around the United States, in Boulder, Colorado, Honolulu, Hawaii, and other locations.

Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. ET August 4, 2015. For more information on the program, please visit www.unausa.org/usyouth.

Tweet This: .@unausa partners w/ @StateDept, @usun & @State_IO for the 2015-6 #USYouth Observer program at the #UN! Learn more: http://bit.ly/1HwNFG0

Love int’l affairs? Bring the voice of youth to the #UN as the #USYouth Observer! Apply now: http://bit.ly/1HwNFG0 via @unausa

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Media Contact
Amy Auguston
516.830.0198

aauguston@unfoundation.org  

ABOUT UNA-USA
The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a membership organization dedicated to inform, inspire, and mobilize the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations. For 70 years UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission through its national network of Chapters, youth engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA is a program of the United Nations Foundation. UNA-USA and its sister organization the Better World Campaign represent the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world. Learn more about UNA-USA’s programs and initiatives at www.unausa.org

ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.