Maria Fernanda Perez Solla (Austria) is a former UN Volunteer with the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  She currently works as a Human Rights Officer with the UN Joint Human Rights Office (BCNUDH) of MONUSCO. As a UN Volunteer in Duekoue, Côte d'Ivoire in 2009, Fernanda worked as a UNV Human Rights Officer with UNOCI.  Her main tasks were to promote human rights, to investigate and document human rights violations, and to advocate for protection in front of state authorities and non-state actors in occupied areas.  

Too often, work to assist youth is “piecemeal” and lacks coordination across the UN system, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during his visit to Vienna on 16 February. “I am determined to bring the United Nations closer to people and make it more relevant to young people,” said Mr. Ban, acknowledging Vienna as “one of four UN headquarters worldwide.” “This is fundamental to our entire agenda – crucial to everything we do,” said Mr. Ban. “Half the world is women – and half the world is under 25 years of age.”