This August 12, we celebrate International Youth Day (IYD), a worldwide UN-based commemoration. Its aim is to raise awareness for youth efforts and issues based on the organization’s World Program of Action for Youth. All over the world, activities such as cultural and sports events, workshops, competitions, and conferences are held to promote the IYD’s annual theme.
Indeed, the United Nations has always given priority towards youth development; as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has stated, “Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation”. While UN efforts have been made since 1965 (“Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect, and Understanding between Peoples”), the concept of having a day dedicated to youth issues was only first envisaged in 1991. The idea was proposed by young people themselves at the UN World Youth Forum. However, it was only in 1995 that the notion became more tangible with the development of the World Program of Action for Youth. In this, the UN established 15 main issues of concern among the youth (e.g. education, juvenile delinquency, intergenerational relations, etc.), setting these as the standard for policy-development. The first International Youth Day was observed on August 12, 2000.
Since then, August 12 has been a day filled with events focused on youth issues, depending on the annual theme (e.g. 2014 Mental Health, 2015 Civic Engagement). This year, we celebrate International Youth Day: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”.
Explore the site to discover seminars, conferences, and expos to help you celebrate IYD!
International Youth Day History Timeline: |
1965 UN endorses Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect, and Understanding between Peoples |
1985 UN General Assembly practices this year as the International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace |
1991 representative youths propose a day dedicated to appreciating youth participation in development at the UN’s first World Youth Form in Vienna, Austria |
1995 UN General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth (with policies that concern education, poverty, health, environment, technology, and intergenerational relations to name a few) |
1998 World Conference of Ministers at Lisbon, on the issue of the Youth, propose declaring August 12 as the International Youth Day |
1999 UN General Assembly endorses this proposal |
2000 first International Youth Day 2016 International Youth Day “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production” |
References:
For IYD Description
http://www.un.org
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/wpay2010.pdf
http://www.un.org/press/en/2000/20000808.note5621.doc.html
https://www.facebook.com/UN4Youth
http://www.everywomaneverychild.org/news-events/events/1242-international-youth-day
http://canadiancrc.com/UN_International_Youth_Day_August_12.aspx
For Timeline Clarification
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-youth-day
http://www.wincalendar.com/International-Youth-Day
http://www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/international/international-youth-day.php
For IYD Philippines
International Youth Day in the Philippines
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/09/1486139/un-envoy-visit-philippines-intl-youth-day
http://www.metrokelan.com/seminars-and-conferenc