12 August: International Youth Day, World Programme of Action for Youth + 10 and Making Commitments Matter

In 1999, the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth that 12 August be declared as the International Youth Day. This day is a great opportunity to rally support and get key actors - governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses, and young people - involved to focus on what has been done to implement the World Programme of Action for Youth adopted by the General Assembly in 1995.

2005 is an important year for youth at the United Nations as it marks the 60 th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which will hold special meetings on youth issues. During the Assembly, governments will review the achievements in the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth. The Assembly will also conduct a 5-year review of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which targets are set for 2015.

Fora, public discussions and information campaigns involving media will be organised on youth issues and to support young people’s contribution to the societies in which they are living. The major focus of the Day is to encourage the empowerment and participation of youth in the decision processes that affect their lives.

For more information or report on how you will be commemorating the International Youth Day in your country, you can write to: youth@un.org.

To read more about the activities to be organized for the International Youth Day, please visit: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm.  

 

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