The United Nations Global Youth Leadership Summit(GYLS), organized by the United Nations New York Office on Sport for Development and Peace on behalf of the UN system, was a landmark event, seeking to strengthen the worldwide movement to engage young people in decisions about the future of their communities, regions, and our emerging global society. Read the Summit report online.

Young leaders, one young man and one young woman between the ages of 18 and 30 from the 192 United Nations Member States, met in New York on 29 - 31 October 2006 to share ideas and plans on ways to overcome poverty and increase progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and build peace, with sport and culture as vehicles for reaching out to youth worldwide. They adopted a Declaration committing to efforts to reduce poverty and accelerate the achievement of the MDGs.

The youth delegates were appointed Youth Spokespersons for the MDGs for their countries, and now many are involved in an impressive range of initiatives on all five continents, from the community to the international level, to translate their commitments into action. Among activities are advocacy and lobbying governments for the MDGs, representing their countries at conferences, producing print and online publications, and organizing sports and cultural events to promote the MDGs. Several delegates now hold positions in government.

Summit co-sponsors, including the Gita-Mohan Mittal Foundation (GMMF) providing support through the Vishwa Prawasi Bhartiya Leaders Forum (VPBLF), and Inner Trip Reikyukai International, are taking a keen interest in youth delegates’ follow-up activities. Mentoring initiatives by Sun Microsystems and the Maybach Family Foundation aim to help the young leaders improve their skills.

The Council of Mentors for the Summit, in cooperation with UN agencies and other partners, including the United Nations Population Fund, ILO/Universitas, the UN Interagency Group on Young People, and also the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, the National Association of Black Journalists, Curriki, Eurosport, the International Institute of Sport, and World Culture Open, will plan further steps in consultation with the youth delegates’ regional chairs to facilitate ongoing and new initiatives following up on the Summit.