The 7th Annual International Solidarity Forum entitled, "Maternal Health: The Real Needs of Women in the Development Context" took place from March 21 - 24, 2010 at WYA and UN Headquarters. Over 100 people participated in the four-day program and negotiated a final outcome document, WYA's "Declaration on Maternal Health." To read the press release announcing this year's ISF, click here.

The International Solidarity Forum (ISF) is the World Youth Alliance's annual training event.

Hosted at the United Nations in New York, the ISF brings together WYA members from each of the five regions, international advisors to the World Youth Alliance, and members of the UN diplomatic community.  Each ISF examines particular themes of global importance through lectures, workshops, and cultural activities. 

The International Solidarity Forum focuses on four areas:

Expert Lectures: Experts in the field of the theme topic, including diplomats, researchers, and scholastics, present global issues to participants.  This expertise influences the positions expressed in the ISF outcome declaration.

UN Training: Hosting the ISF at United Nations Headquarters allows participants to learn about the UN system by experiencing it through attendance at concurrent UN Commissions or other meetings.   

Language Negotiation: Each ISF produces an outcome document which serves the purpose of training participants in UN style language negotiations as well as drafting WYA position statements on global issues.

Cultural Events: ISF participants come from all regions of the world; cultural events allow them to share their respective cultures.  Major cultural events, such as the WYA Film Festival, demonstrate how our core ideas are expressed through culture.

ISF participants must have completed WYA's Track A training program and must be certified by their regional director.