1. What is the “J8”?

  The Junior 8 Summit, or “J8,” is a companion conference for young people to the annual “Group of 8 Summit of world leaders, also known as the G8.

  The G8 Summit is an annual meeting of leaders from the eight major industrial democracies, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. At the G8 Summit, the leaders of those eight countries meet to discuss the major economic and political issues facing their own countries and the international community as a whole, and to agree on strategies for solving the world’s problems.

  At the J8 Summit, a group of selected adolescent delegates from the G8 countries, and other countries around the world, meet to connect with other young people, and share their concerns and their ideas with each other. Most importantly, they speak directly to the G8 leaders about the priorities of all young people, and give their own recommendations for how to solve the world’s problems.

  The J8 Summit is a parallel event to the G8 summit. It takes place at approximately the same time, in a location near the G8 summit. Each of the G8 countries is represented by a team of young people at the J8 summit. At the J8 summit (unlike the G8) there is also a ninth delegation of young people who represent other countries. Delegates at the J8 Summit discuss and propose solutions for the same issues and themes which the government leaders discuss at the G8 Summit.

  The J8 Summit also intersects with the G8 Summit. Delegates from the J8 have the opportunity to speak directly to the leaders attending the G8 Summit, and present their ideas, opinions, and proposals on the topics which the government leaders are also discussing. By doing so, they ensure that the ideas and concerns of all children and young people become part of the agenda of the G8 Summit.

2. Why was the J8 created? What is its purpose?

The Right to Participation: Everyone benefits
  The most important purpose of the Junior 8 Summit is to give children and young people an opportunity to speak directly to world leaders, decision makers and the public about their own experiences, ideas, and concerns.

  All children and young people share a fundamental right to participate in voicing their opinions and sharing in the decision about all matters that affect them. The J8 Summit was created as one of many institutions and traditions worldwide to uphold and protect this right.

  This opportunity for dialogue and exchange brings benefits to the participants in the J8, the leaders of the G8 countries, children and young people in the G8 Countries, and the international community as a whole.

Children and young people from the G8 countries and beyond
  The J8 summit was created to build a feeling of global citizenship among all children and young people. The delegates are representatives of their peers, so all children and young people, in both G8 and non-G8 countries, gain a stronger, more unified voice as global citizens, and add their opinions and concerns to this global dialogue. They become part of the solution of the problems that affect them today, and that all of the world’s citizens will face in the future.

J8 Participant
  The young people who participate gain knowledge about important issues and challenges facing the world today, and how their governments, and other governments are responding to those challenges. They also gain experience and skills by working with each other and with government leaders to design and agree upon practical solutions to world problems. They create new friendships and connections with other young people with similar concerns, and build networks so that they can continue to work together after the summit ends.

All children and young people
  The J8 Summit provides all children and young people world-wide with representative delegates who advocate for their needs and concerns directly to the G8 leaders.

  When the J8 summit ends and the delegates become J8 ambassadors, the other children and young people in their home countries gain an important resource for representation and advocacy. J8 ambassadors are responsible for continuing their work as advocates for and representatives of children in their countries and countries throughout the world. J8 ambassadors share the information, skills, and contacts they have gained as delegates in the J8 conference with other young people in their home countries. They continue to work to promote dialogue between children and decision makers in their country.

Leaders of the G8 countries
  The leaders of the G8 countries gain an opportunity to learn more about the needs and concerns of an important group of the citizens from their own country: the children and young people. When leaders have a chance to learn directly from young people about their own experiences and perspectives, they are better able to create policies and strategies to solve the world’s problems and build a better future.

The international community
  Citizens of all countries, adults and young people alike, benefit when their leaders know and understand the issues and concerns facing the world’s children. Everyone benefits when children have the opportunity to learn and grow to their full capacity, and are empowered to make positive contributions to their communities and societies.