International Youth Day is an awareness day designated by the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth which is been celebrated every year on the 12th of August.
When was IYD first celebrated ?
The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000
According to United Nations General Assembly , On December 17, 1999, in its resolution, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth that 12th August be declared International Youth Day.
The UN Assembly recommendation was of the view that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1996.
Recognizing that many young are essential workers or volunteering to support their community during COVID-19 pandemic, World Health Organisation (WHO) on the occasion said, “On the 12th of August, WHO and UNESCO celebrate International Youth Day and would like to recognize young people around the world demonstrating their resilience, collective action, and creativity in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
International Youth Day August 2020 Theme: Youth Engagement for Global Action
Every year, the celebration of International Youth Day is marked with a theme that is relevant to the time. The theme of International Youth Day August 2020 is “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.
It is marked to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national, and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes. The theme is also aimed at drawing lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.
In observance of the day, the United Nations had launched a social media campaign, #31DaysOfYouth, which is meant for celebrating young people all throughout the month of August.
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How is the International Youth Day celebrated Yearly?
The IYD is been celebrated yearly and a special and unique theme is chosen for the celebration of the day by the United Nations according to the significant happenings of the year.
Furthermore, Seminars, Events and conferences are then held on the same theme in different parts of the world. Attention is also devoted to ensure that the youth participate in all these events rigorously and express their opinions and views about the issues being faced by the world.
