For over 30 years UNEP has established strong links with civil society of which youth are  an integral part, and has incorporated them as a major group in the design,  implementation and monitoring  of a range of projects and programmes.  
 It is the vision of the organization to "foster a generation of environmentally conscious  citizens who will better influence decision-making processes and act responsilbly to  create a sustainable world".
 
 Youth involvement in the 5th session of the Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF) in Jeju,  Korea (27-28 March 2004) is, therefore, a reflection of this vision and a step towards  further empowering young people to play a more positive role in shaping the environment.

 At Jeju, young people will not only participate at the 5th GCSF as a major group, but they  will also deliver a Statement to the Global Ministerial Environmental Forum (GC/GMEF),  where they will voice-out their concerns, and promote their perspectives regarding the  main thematic areas in discussion.

In order to put together the Youth statement to the GC/GMEF, TUNZA youth advisors worked in close liasion with their partners in the regions to come up with the draft which was circulated to governments six week prior to the GC/GMEF. Governments are already considering their positions alongside all other documents of the GC/GMEF and their views are likely to be taking into account in the outcomes of GC/GMEF.

 It is in this context of "empowering" and "involving" young people in environmental issues  that UNEP developed a long-term strategy (2003-2008) known as “Tunza  Strategy”  in  order to provide the framework to  involve young people world wide in  environmental  issues  and debate.