Geneva – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched an on-line space for young people from around the world to come together to share experience and ideas on achieving decent work for youth.

The Decent Work 4 Youth platform follows up on the 2012 ILO Youth Employment Forum, which brought together over 100 young leaders in Geneva to discuss responses to the youth employment crisis.

“With over 73 million unemployed youth globally and millions more either in low quality jobs, or who have given up looking for work altogether, it is clear that solutions urgently need to be found. We believe that young people are part of the solution and this new platform will let their voice, ideas and experience be heard in the youth employment debate,” says Gianni Rosas, head of the ILO Youth Employment Programme.

Users of the interactive site can connect and engage with online debates moderated by young people working on youth employment; share their experiences and ideas of good employment practice; and learn more about Decent Work by asking questions directly to ILO experts.

The platform will host monthly debates on different themes and the best contributions will be selected to be included in ILO thematic reports. The first debate on internships is already underway and can be joined at www.decentwork4youth.org.

The platform responds to one of the requests included in the ILO Call for Action on youth employment, issued in June 2012.

The Call for Action urges governments, employer and worker organizations to take immediate, targeted and renewed action to tackle the youth unemployment crisis. It provides a portfolio of tried and tested policy measures designed to promote quality employment for young people.

For more information please contact the Department of Communication and Public Information at communication@ilo.org or +4122/799-7912.