International Youth Day 2020 will be convened by UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development Youth Caucus and Create2030
This year’s International Youth Day by the United Nations (UN) aims to highlight how young people’s participation at the local, national and global levels can enrich national and multilateral institutions and processes.
Themed ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’, the commemoration also hopes to draw lessons on ways to significantly enhance youth’s representation and engagement in formal institutional politics.
More importantly, it seeks to put the spotlight on the importance of enabling youth engagement by making local, national and global institutions more inclusive in order to strengthen their capacity and relevance in achieving global action.
“The theme of this year’s International Youth Day — ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’ — spotlights the ways in which the voices and activism of young people are making a difference and moving our world closer to the values and vision of the United Nations Charter,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for the celebration.
He elaborated that despite being confronted by numerous personal and global challenges, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, today’s youth are “resilient, resourceful and engaged” who continue to call for racial justice, gender equality and climate action, among other global issues.
“Realizing the promise of this generation means investing far more in young people’s inclusion, participation, organizations and initiatives.
“I call on leaders and adults everywhere to do everything possible to enable the world’s youth to enjoy lives of safety, dignity and opportunity and contribute to the fullest of their great potential,” he noted.
International Youth Day is observed on 12 August annually, with the goal of providing the opportunity to celebrate and mainstream voices, actions and initiatives of youth, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement.
This year’s occasion will take the form of a podcast-style discussion hosted by youth for youth, along with independently organised commemorations worldwide recognising the importance of youth participation in politics, the economy and the society at large.
For more information, visit https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/iyd2020.html.
