About the J8
What is the J8?
The Junior 8 Summit, or 'J8', is an annual forum where young people from around the world meet to share their concerns and recommendations on how to solve the global issues with G8 leaders and the world community. The Summit is a parallel youth event to the annual Group of 8 (G8) Summit of world leaders. Click here to download the press release.
At the J8 Summit, a team of young people represents each of the G8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States). An additional delegation of young people represents other countries of the world. Participants in the Summit share their own ideas, but also serve as representatives of all young people worldwide.
What happens at the J8 Summit?
© U.S. Fund for UNICEF/2008/Swanson
A working session at the Junior 8 Summit in Chitose, Japan.
During the J8 Summit, participants meet together to share their ideas and experiences. They also research and discuss the J8 Summit themes based on the G8 agenda and learn about their shared priorities and goals. Working together, they prepare statements and recommendations to be taken by G8 leaders and by young people to address G8 issues. Some of the J8 participants may have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with G8 leaders to discuss their proposals. Participants may also share their experiences and recommendations through media events such as press conferences and interviews.
Although facilitators and topic experts work with J8 participants on their recommendations, the statements and proposals the participants develop are based on their own ideas and opinions.
What is the G8?
The Group of 8, often referred to as the G8, is an unofficial forum of the leaders of eight major industrialized democracies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each year, G8 leaders meet to discuss global issues of major concern. At the Summit, they try to reach consensus on policies and actions they will take to solve global problems.
The agenda often includes a focus on world economic issues, but other global issues such as climate change, human rights, emerging conflicts, terrorism and global health have also been discussed in the past.
The G8’s membership is limited, but since the leaders make decisions that have an impact on many other non-member countries, other governments, institutions and organizations participate as observers in the Summits.
The European Union sends a representative each year and other national leaders are also invited to attend, such as leaders of the African Union. Many other groups of officials, experts and others meet over the course of the year to follow up on the previous Summit and prepare for the next one. The annual G8 Summits are one part of a continuous process of discussion, planning and policymaking that includes leaders and citizens of countries worldwide.
