Youth Network

A dedicated GenJust Youth Network was established in April 2024 through an open call, bringing together young individuals passionate about crime prevention and criminal justice – representing the five regional groups in which preparatory meetings for the 15th Crime Congress will be held.

The Network provides members with the opportunity to enhance negotiation, policy-making, communication and leadership skills, increase youth visibility in the international arena, and strengthen peer connections. The Network also aims to increase the substantive knowledge of youth participants on UNODC mandates on crime prevention and criminal justice issues as well as the overall theme, agenda items and workshop topics of the 15th Crime Congress. The Youth Network members meet on a regular basis to plan their work and co-create GenJust activities.

Youth Network In the lead-up to the 15th UN Crime Congress

10 young individuals from each region compose the Youth Networks.

Regional Youth Consultations

From January to April 2025, UNODC held online youth consultations with GenJust Youth Network members from the five different regions. Each region discussed selected topics from the agenda of the 15th Crime Congress based on the results of a global youth survey circulated in 2024. Through an interactive format, youth collectively identified specific challenges, solutions and recommendations for each topic. These youth recommendations were then presented in a report and a video message to government delegates before the regional preparatory meetings of the 15th Crime Congress, for their consideration in the drafting of the Congress Declaration.

Regional Youth Consultation for Asia and the Pacific

The GenJust Asia-Pacific regional group held an online youth consultation on 13 January 2025, with youth participants discussing challenges, solutions and recommendations for the following Congress agenda topics:

Workshop 1 – Building resilient societies, with a focus on protecting women, children and youth: fostering engagement, education and the culture of lawfulness; and
Workshop 4 – Turning the digital age into an opportunity: promoting the responsible use of technologies in crime prevention and criminal justice

These discussions then informed a series of youth recommendations for the European Regional Preparatory Meeting of the 15th Crime Congress held 21-23 January 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Check the recommendations from the GenJust Asia-Pacific regional youth consultation (A/CONF.241/RPM.1/CRP.2)

Regional Youth Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean

The Latin America & the Caribbean Regional Youth Consultation was held online on 20 January 2025. During the consultation, youth representatives from across the region analysed the data collected in the global survey and national consultations and collaborated to finalize a set of recommendations on the topics below:

Workshop 1: Building resilient societies, with a focus on protecting women, children and youth – fostering engagement, education and the culture of lawfulness
Workshop 2: Ensuring equal access to justice for all – towards safe and secure societies while respecting the rule of law

These recommendations were presented to the Regional Preparatory Meeting held from 4 to 6 February 2025 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Check the recommendations from the GenJust Latin America and Caribbean regional youth consultation (A/CONF.241/RPM.2/CRP.2)

Regional Youth Consultation for Europe

The GenJust Europe regional group held an online youth consultation on 19 March 2025. Discussions focused on the below three topics of the Congress agenda:

Agenda Item 3: Addressing and Countering Crime, including Organized Crime and Terrorism, in New, Emerging, and Evolving Forms
Workshop 1: Building Resilient Societies – Protecting Women, Children, and Youth by Fostering Engagement, Education, and a Culture of Lawfulness
Agenda Item 2: Promoting People-Centered, Inclusive, and Responsive Criminal Justice Systems in a World of Continuous Change

These discussions then informed a series of youth recommendations for the European Regional Preparatory Meeting of the 15th Crime Congress held 25-27 March in Vienna.

Check the recommendations from the GenJust Europe regional youth consultation (A/CONF.241/RPM.3/CRP.1)

Regional Preparatory Meeting in Africa

The Africa Regional Youth Consultation took place online on 26 March 2025. Youth engaged in the consultation discussed the following topics:

Agenda item 1: Advancing innovative and evidence-based crime prevention strategies towards social, economic and environmental development
Workshop 1: Building resilient societies, with a focus on protecting women, children and youth – fostering engagement, education and the culture of lawfulness
Workshop 4: Turning the digital age into an opportunity: promoting the responsible use of technologies in crime prevention and criminal justice

The recommendations were presented at the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting, held 8-10 April 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Check the recommendations from the GenJust Africa regional youth consultation (A/CONF.241/RPM.4/CRP.1)

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Youth Network

Youth Network In the lead-up to the 15th UN Crime Congress

Regional Youth Consultations