United Nations Youth Association of Australia

The United Nations Youth Association of Australia (UNYA) is one of Australia's largest youth organisations, and is part of the global network of United Nations Youth Associations. UNYA is an independent branch of the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA). UNYA is a not-for-profit community organisation run entirely by volunteer young people (aged 24 and under).

tructure of UNYA

Established approximately forty years ago, UNYA has developed into a multi-faceted organisation that works at a number of levels. The national structure of UNYA comprises eight semi-autonomous divisions: that is, one for each State or Territory represented in Parliament. Divisions meet twice a year with the National Executive in sessions of National Council.

At a national level, UNYA is represented by a National Executive and various national office bearers.

Divisions are subject to motions adopted by the National Council of divisional representatives bi-annually, but are otherwise independent in their structure. For instance, the Tasmanian division of UNYA is guaranteed as an independent part of the UNAA and the Tasmania University Union, whereas other divisions do not involve student union activity.

Aims of UNYA

Broadly speaking, UNYA Australia seeks to promote the ideals and the work of the United Nations. While these aims are similar to that of conventional UN Associations in advocating the United Nations Charter and educating young people about the United Nations structure and functions, it also remains committed to the task of advocating the role of young people in domestic affairs and of young people playing an active part in the democratic process.

Activities of UNYA

UNYA holds two annual multi-divisional events: the UNYA National Youth Conference (UNYC) and the United Nations Security Council Competition: Evatt Trophy, named after Dr H.V. Evatt. These two events are significant national conferences, and attract a great deal of community support and attention. Both conferences are held in Australian capital cities designated on a rotational system.

UNYA Australia also has a significant regional focus, and runs a number of events in regional locations, including the annual UNYA National Regional Youth Summit (UNRYS) held in Albury, New South Wales. Significant conferences typically take the form of a youth summit combining educational workshops and speakers, issue based discussion and policy drafting and mock United Nations committee or assembly debate, as is common in Model United Nations.

Divisional bodies of UNYA also coordinate significant events in their State or Territory, such as annual State Conferences and Security Council competitions. Similarly, educative and participatory youth events, such as speakers forums during the 2004 Australian election, have been convened by divisional bodies.

UNYA is the only youth-run organisation on the National Representative Council of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, and consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on a number of different concerns, including human rights. Further, UNYA Australia works with DFAT to support an Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations General Assembly each year, and has also sent two representatives to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights as part of Australia's delegation.

External links

* [http://www.unya.asn.au/ United Nations Youth Association of Australia]
* [http://www.ayac.org.au/ Australian Youth Affairs Coalition]