UNESCO Youth Forum 2005

TITLE

Youth Forum of the 33rd session of the General Conference of UNESCO

DATES AND DURATION

The Forum will be held just before the 33rd session of the General Conference and will last three days, from Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October 2005. There will be three working groups meeting simultaneously throughout the thematic sessions, whose composition will depend on the number of participants in the Forum.

OBJECTIVE

The Forum’s main objective is to formulate recommendations and practical proposals on the theme chosen.

STRUCTURE

The Forum will consist of plenary sessions and working groups. The first plenary session will open the Forum and adopt its agenda and working methods. The final plenary session will discuss and adopt the final report drawn up by drafting committee elected by participants in the Forum.

Focus of discussions in the working groups

1) present and identify best youth-led practices and innovative initiatives/mechanisms
2) propose concrete actions for and by youth for dialogue at all levels (UNESCO, international, national, regional, local..) and suggest actions for follow-up to the Youth Forum
3) identify priorities and obstacles for dialogue from a youth perspective
4) comment on existing UNESCO initiatives with regards to young people’s needs and aspirations
5) identify opportunities and mechanisms to foster the participation of girls and young women in all dialogue-related activities

THEME

The theme to be discussed by the fourth Youth Forum is: Young People and the Dialogue among Civilizations, Cultures and Peoples – Ideas for action in education, the sciences, culture and communication. This theme was chosen in consultation with participants in previous Youth Forums and with UNESCO National Commissions. Recommendations adopted at the conclusion of the debates will be submitted to the General Conference at its 33rd session.

RESULTS

The Forum will conclude with the adoption of a report setting out the young participants’ ideas on priority action to be carried out in connection with the proposed theme. The Forum’s Final Report will be presented to the General Conference at its opening plenary session.

ARRIVAL AND TRANSPORTATION

From the Charles de Gaulle Airport:

•Taxis are expensive and taking a taxi from the airport to downtown Paris will cost approximately 40 Euros.
•Shuttle Buses: The Roissybus runs between the airport and the Metro “Opera” (lines 3, 7,8). It runs between 6:00a.m. and 11:00p.m. and the cost is approximately 8 Euros. It stops at each terminal of the airport. Air France also has a shuttle that runs between the airport and the Metro “Etoile” (lines 1, 6, 2) between 5:45a.m. and 11:00p.m. A one way ticket is 12 Euros and this bus stops at all the terminals!
•Train It is possible to take the RER B train from the airport into Paris and then once in the city switch to the metro. A ticket for the train from the airport will cost approximately 8 Euros.

From the Orly Airport:

•Orlyval and Train When you arrive at the airport you can take a train from Orly Airport called “Orlyval” (a ticket costs about 7 Euros). You will need to get off at “Antony” and then take the train RER B into Paris. You must buy another ticket in Antony before taking the RER B into Paris! The whole trip from Orly to Paris takes about 45 min. Within Paris:

•Subway (metro): Paris has an extensive metro and bus system to get around the city with just one type of ticket. One ticket is valid for one trip regardless of the distance traveled. It is cheaper to buy 10-tickets at a time by asking for a “carnet” (about 11 Euros).
•Bus You can use the same tickets on the bus as on the metro with one ticket per trip. You must punch your ticket when you board the bus. Buses which pass near UNESCO are the 28, 80, 82, 87 and 92. Bus stops and metro stations are shown on the map of your Paris Lafayette guide.

For more information on getting around Paris please click here

VENUE OF THE YOUTH FORUM

The Forum will be held at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.

UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy
Paris (7th arrondissement)

Metro station: Cambronne (line 6), Ecole Militaire (line 8)

•UNESCO Buildings

Attention: There are two UNESCO buildings in Paris. All sessions of the Youth Forum will take place in the main building of UNESCO at 7 place de Fontenoy!
Please note: UNESCO has another building on 1 rue Miollis. Don’t go there!

WITHIN UNESCO

•Registration of all delegates will take place at the Reception desk inside the main entrance.
•Badges: You will be given a badge which must be shown to gain access to the building. Your badge must be visible at all times when you inside the UNESCO building.
•Rooms: During the Forum different meeting rooms are going to be used for plenary sessions, working groups sessions and side events. Please check the programme and announcements to find out where events are taking place (see Maps 2 and 3 for room locations).

ACCOMMODATION

Many of the delegates are staying at the following youth hostel:

Maison International des Jeunes
pour la Culture et la Paix
4, rue Titon
75011 Paris
Tel : +33 1 43 71 99 21
Fax : +33 1 43 71 78 58
Email: mij.cp@wanadoo.fr
Email is the best way to make a reservation.

Hostel location from UNESCO: The youth hostel is located near Metro ‘Faidherbes Chaligny’ (line 8) which runs direct to the Metro ‘Ecole Militaire’ in 35 minutes. From there it is a 5 minute walk to UNESCO.

Participants from other countries may contact the youth hostel directly to book a room.

For more information on youth hostels and hotels please click here

WHERE TO HAVE LUNCH?

•Friday 30/09: You will find near the Metro ‘Cambronne’ and ‘La Motte-Picquet’ (see map 1) some restaurants, bakeries, food stores and shops, where you can buy hot dishes, sandwiches, or drinks. You can also go to the UNESCO cafeteria or conference bar.

• The cafeteria is situated on the 7th floor of the Fontenoy Building Opening hours: 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Monday to Friday
•The Conference bar Serves coffee, tea, drinks, cakes and sandwiches all day.This bar is located in the basement of the Fontenoy Building. Open 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
•Saturday 01/10 and Sunday 02/10: Lunch buffet at UNESCO cafeteria from 1 p.m to 3 p.m. (free of charge)

EVENINGS

•The Latin Quarter, located at Metro ‘Odéon’ (line 4, 10) or Metro ‘Saint Michel’ (line 4) is an area of Paris that is very popular with young people and always full of life. Here you will find many reasonably priced restaurants.

JUST IN CASE

•Medical emergencies
For a serious emergency outside UNESCO, call the SAMU directly, tel.: 15. Irrespective of place or time, if you need a doctor, telephone SOS Médecins at 01 43 37 77 77.
•Within UNESCO Medical service located on the third floor of the Fontenoy building, offices 3.067 to 3.069.Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. In case of an emergency within UNESCO please dial 18 for the firemen.
•If you need help, please speak to someone from the Section for Youth:
Dulat Kasymov Tel: 01 45 68 16 61
Annie McStravick Tel: 01 45 68 16 53
Jacqueline Groth Tel: 01 45 68 17 09
Marie-Pierre Blanco Tel: 01 45 68 16 54
Lindsey Higgs Tel: 01 45 68 14 60
Alvita Cebyte Tel : 01 45 68 16 41
Jacques-Olivier Costa Tel : 01 45 68 16 69

LANDMARKS

Eiffel Tower
The Tower was built by Gustav Eiffel for the World Exhibition of 1889, organised in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The Tower is 324 meters high and affords a wonderful view of Paris.
A visit to the Eiffel Tower has been organised as an optional side event during the Youth Forum for Sunday evening, 2 October. This visit will be free of charge.

Notre Dame Cathedral
Construction began in the year 1163, and finished more than 200 years later, around 1345. The cathedral has a capacity of more than 6000 people. Entrance is of course free of charge, but there is a charge of 6 EUR to climb to the top. It’s a long climb but the view is worth it. Opening times: 8:00a.m.-6:45 p.m. daily. Guided tours: 9:30a.m.-6:45p.m. daily. Masses: 8:00a.m., 9:00a.m., 12:00p.m., 6:45p.m.

Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe
The Champs-Elysées is the grand boulevard of Paris which runs from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, Though well worth a visit, many of the shops and restaurants in this area are very expensive. At the top of the avenue (Metro ‘Etoile’ (line 1,2,6) is the colossal Arc de Triomphe, built in the middle of the 18th century to commemorate the victories of Napoleon. Entrance fee: about 6 EUR. Opening times: 9:30a.m.-11:00p.m. daily.

Montmartre and the Sacred Heart Basilica
Of Roman-Byzantine style, the Basilica is like a crown sitting on the hill of Montmartre. Entrance is free of charge, but access to the crypt and the dome is about 5 EUR. To avoid climbing the many stairs to reach the Basilica you can take the funicular by going to Metro ‘Anvers’ (line 2) and then making a short walk uphill. Until the 19th century, Montmartre was only a small village beyond the walls of Paris and it is still delightful to wander through its narrow streets.

Suggested site for more information: http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/discover-paris.html