Youth, migration policy and MYCP: your questions answered.
Straight answers on how young people shape international migration policy, and how MYCP, the official youth constituency on migration in the UN system, makes it happen.
About MYCP
What is the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP)?
The Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP) is the official youth constituency on migration within the UN system. It is a space for and by young people to shape international migration policymaking, working by, with and for every child and young person on the move. MYCP is the migration constituency of the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY). About MYCP
Is MYCP part of the United Nations?
MYCP is not a UN agency. It is the official migration constituency of the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), the formal, self-organised space for children and youth under 30 to engage in UN intergovernmental processes since 1992, mandated under UN General Assembly Resolution 67/290 and Agenda 21. This gives young migrants a recognised seat in UN migration processes.
When was MYCP founded?
MYCP was established in 2017, during the negotiations of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). It grew from an informal group into a global youth movement, first engaged the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in 2018, and secured its formal youth mandate at the GFMD in 2021. History of engagement
Who does MYCP represent?
MYCP represents children and young migrants, refugees, displaced youth, youth-led organisations and young people working on migration worldwide. To date MYCP has engaged more than 105,000 young migrants and 272 organisations across 75 countries, through 5 Migration Youth Forums, 25+ regional events and 20+ national reviews.
How is MYCP governed?
MYCP has four parts. A Secretariat, led by a full-time Global Coordinator, runs operations and UN engagement. An International Council of five elected regional representatives sets political direction. A volunteer Coordination Team works in three units: #THINK (research), #ENGAGE (capacity building) and #DELIVER (advocacy). A Board of Directors provides legal and financial oversight. Meet the team
Youth and migration policy
Why should young people have a say in migration policy?
Because migration is young. One in three migrants is under 30, yet young migrants are rarely in the room when migration policy is written. MYCP's position is “nothing about migration policy without us”: young people with lived experience know what works, and policies designed with them protect rights, safety and dignity more effectively.
What is the Global Compact for Migration (GCM)?
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), adopted in 2018, is the first global agreement on a common approach to international migration. It is non-binding and sets 23 objectives for managing migration at local, national, regional and global levels. MYCP coordinates youth inputs across all GCM processes. MYCP and the GCM
Which GCM objectives do young migrants prioritise?
In January 2025 the MYCP constituency chose eleven GCM objectives as youth priorities: regular pathways (5), recruitment and decent work (6), countering smuggling (9), ending trafficking (10), alternatives to detention (13), access to basic services (15), inclusion and social cohesion (16), eliminating discrimination (17), skills recognition (18), social protection (22) and international cooperation (23).
What is the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)?
The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) is the main UN platform where Member States review progress on the Global Compact for Migration. It meets every four years and adopts a Progress Declaration that guides global migration governance until the next forum. The 2026 Progress Declaration sets direction until 2030.
What did young migrants achieve at IMRF 2026?
Working with UNICEF through the Coalition for Migration and Youth Affairs, MYCP introduced language adopted in the IMRF 2026 Progress Declaration: paragraph 53, the first actionable step toward ending child immigration detention in IMRF history; paragraph 54, the first IMRF commitment on migrants' mental health; paragraphs 14 and 43 on family unity and reunification; and paragraph 17 on mutual recognition of skills. Read the press release
What is MYCP doing to end child immigration detention?
On average 330,000 children are affected by immigration detention every year. MYCP co-leads the UN Network on Migration subgroup on alternatives to immigration detention with UNICEF and the International Detention Coalition, secured paragraph 53 of the IMRF 2026 Progress Declaration, and publishes Youth Advocacy Toolkits on ending child immigration detention in six languages.
How were young migrants consulted for the IMRF?
Between 2024 and 2025 MYCP ran GCM Youth Consultations: 23 sessions across five world regions, reaching 812 young people on the move with 65 partner organisations. The results shaped MYCP's regional policy briefs, its IMRF 2026 advocacy brief and the youth language adopted in the Progress Declaration. Consultations report
What is the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD)?
Created in 2007, the GFMD is a state-led, informal and non-binding process where governments discuss migration and development with civil society, business, mayors and the UN. MYCP is the official youth stakeholder network of the GFMD: it convenes the Migration Youth Forum before each summit and sits as an observer on the Friends of the Forum and GFMD Steering Group. MYCP at the GFMD
What is the La Guajira Declaration?
The La Guajira Declaration is the youth call to action adopted at the 5th Migration Youth Forum in Riohacha, Colombia, on 1 September 2025, ahead of the XV GFMD Summit. It sets out the priorities of children and youth on the move for States, local governments, the private sector, international organisations and civil society. Read the declaration
How does climate change affect young migrants?
Climate change is reshaping where young people live and work, forcing communities to move, stay or adapt. MYCP's Climate Mobilities Youth Declaration (November 2025) gathers youth demands on climate, migration and displacement, and the MYCP Policy Lab produces youth policy briefs on climate, labour and migration for COP31 advocacy. Read the declaration
Programmes and getting involved
How can young migrants get involved in migration policy?
Join the MYCP network to receive open calls, consultations, volunteer and delegate opportunities. From there you can learn (webinars, reading circles, the Knowledge Hub), shape MYCP positions (trainings, labs, consultations, volunteering) and represent young people on the move at UN and global meetings, with applications opening per event. Get involved
What is the UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme?
Youth on the Move offers refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and migrants aged 20 to 32 a 12-month paid UN Volunteer assignment with UNICEF. It grew from a fellowship pilot that UNICEF ran with MYCP from 2022 to 2024. MYCP provides peer mentorship, capacity building, Duolingo English Test scholarships and opportunity guides. Youth on the Move
What is the Youth Leadership and Innovation Award for Migration (YLIA)?
YLIA is a global competition for young leaders already running solutions to migration challenges, including young migrants, refugees and members of host communities. Finalists receive mentorship, pitch training, visibility at the GFMD and seed funding. Three editions have drawn 600+ participants, 18 finalists and 9 winners; the 4th edition is the first held fully online. About YLIA
What is the MYCP Policy Lab?
The MYCP Policy Lab brings young people on the move together with policymakers and UN experts to write policy briefs in teams. Its current focus is climate, migration, AI and the future of work, and the winning brief feeds MYCP's COP31 advocacy. No policy background is required; lived experience of climate migration is especially welcome. MYCP Policy Lab
What is the Youth Committee on Migration and Displacement Data?
The Youth Committee on Migration and Displacement Data (YCMDD) reviews and contributes youth perspectives to migration and displacement research and data. It is mandated by MYCP and works in partnership with the International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC), led by UNICEF. About the YCMDD
Where can I find youth-led research on migration?
The MYCP Knowledge Hub holds youth-led policy briefs, reports and toolkits, including regional GCM briefs for Africa, SWANA, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and Europe and North America, the assessment of child and youth rights in the GCM, and GFMD youth impact reports. Knowledge Hub
How do I contact MYCP?
Email the MYCP Secretariat at mycp@unmgcy.org, or follow MYCP on Instagram (@mycp_mgcy) and LinkedIn (Migration Youth and Children Platform). Partners interested in collaborating can also reach the team through the partners page. Partners
Still have a question? Email the MYCP Secretariat at mycp@unmgcy.org.