The 1st High-Level Panel Meeting, 16-17 July 2001.

At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Director-General of the ILO and the President of the World Bank, twelve eminent persons appointed members of the High-Level Panel on Youth Employment in 2001.

The members of the panel worked closely with the Joint Secretariat constituted by the ILO, the UN and the World Bank, in preparing a background issues paper and a set of policy proposals to promote decent work opportunities for young people, which were discussed at the High-Level Panel Meeting held at ILO headquarters in Geneva on 16 and 17 July 2001.

The High-Level Panel met with Mr. Annan, Mr. Somavia and Mr. Wolfensohn in the afternoon of 16 July 2001 to discuss and elaborate on the draft recommendations. The Panel members contributed their views, experience and proposals for action, with special emphasis on action-oriented partnerships for the implementation of concrete initiatives. The High-Level Meeting was preceded by a focus group meeting of representatives of a number of youth organizations from various regions, who discussed the proposed recommendations and contributed their own views. The young representatives met with the High-Level Panel members and presented their views during the July 16 morning session of the Panel, chaired by the Director-General of the ILO.

At the meeting of the High-Level Panel, the UN Secretary-General asked the ILO to act as lead agency for the High-Level Network, including the work of organizing and seeking the necessary funding for a permanent secretariat for the Network.

At a press conference during the High-Level Meeting, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan described the background to the Network, its aspirations, and its role of exploring imaginative approaches in creating opportunities for youth.

The draft document prepared by the panellists was presented to the World Youth Forum (English, French and Spanish) in Dakar in August 2001. Hundreds of young women and men representing youth organizations from all UN member countries attended the Forum, which provided a unique opportunity for dialogue and for priority setting for action both at international and national levels.

The High-Level Panel agreed to act in an advisory capacity, providing its views and expertise on the proposed recommendations, as well as mobilizing public opinion and action for youth employment.