It aims to battle ageism. International Youth Day is celebrated every year on August 12 to raise awareness about cultural and legal issues related to the youth. The day was marked by the United Nations, and it was first observed on August 12, 2000.
International Youth Day highlights the role of youth in spheres like
education, sustainable development, global peace, social justice and
inclusiveness.
History
- Young people, who attended the first
session of the UN’s World Youth Forum in Vienna, Austria, in 1991,
suggested that an International Youth Day be declared to help raise
money for the United Nations Youth Fund.
- At the first session of
the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held in Lisbon
in August 1998, August 12 was declared International Youth Day.
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) endorsed this proclamation in 1999.
Role of Youth
- The progress of human civilisation depends on cooperation among all generations of people.
- The youth should receive all necessary support to help protect our environment, oppose terrorism and establish global peace.
Statistics
* Half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this is expected to reach 57% by the end of 2030.
* Today, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population.
*
More than two thirds (69%) of people across all age groups agree that
more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy
development/change would make political systems better.
* Globally, only 2.6% of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, and less than 1% of these young MPs are women.
Theme 2022
- This year's theme for International Youth Day 2022 is “Intergenerational solidarity: creating a world for all ages.”
- Ageism, a practice of discrimination based on an individual's age, is the topic of International Youth Day in 2022.
