Welcome to Advocacy at the World Youth Alliance!  My name is Rebecca Austen, and I am the Director of Advocacy for WYA.  We have been working hard this year at various international policy-making events, and this page is dedicated to giving you periodic updates and explanations of our activities.  If you have questions about any aspect of our advocacy work, please feel free to email me directly at becky@wya.net. 

The World Youth Alliance trains young people to promote the dignity of the person in international agreements and institutions. Young people participate directly in United Nations commissions and conferences, offering language proposals, sharing grassroots experiences and working one-on-one with delegates to develop a person-centered approach to development. At the European institutions, young people work with the Commission and Parliament to develop resolutions and reports that affirm the dignity of the person. Recent research and proposals have focused on development and solidarity, women's health, and bioethics issues. WYA has participated in recent Organization of American States summits, in Mexico City, Buenos Aires and Medellin, Columbia.

The World Youth Alliance received consultative, NGO (“Non-Governmental Organization”) status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in 2004.  This certified status allows us to participate in all of the Commissions and gives us regular access to country delegates in order to more effectively promote the dignity of the human person.  The World Youth Alliance has a similar status at the European Parliament and the Organization of American States. 

For a more comprehensive idea of what kind of language and principles the World Youth Alliance promotes at these policy-making bodies, please read our Declarations.  Welcome again to Advocacy at WYA!