Every year on 12th August,” United Nations International Youth Day” is celebrated to recognize
The youth of the age group between 15 to 24 years fall in this category. Youth form one-sixth of the population of the world. Young people proposed the idea for International Youth Day in 1991. In 1998, a resolution was passed to recognize 12th August as International Youth Day. It was later endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1999. The first International Youth Day was observed in 2000.
It is aimed to bring everyone’s attention to youth issues all over the world. The slogans and themes used during the previous years are as follows – Mental Health (2014), Youth and Civic Engagement (2015), The Road to 2030- Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production (2016), Youth Building Peace (2017), Safe Spaces for Youth (2018), Transforming Education (2019).
On this day different activities and events are held. For example, conferences are held where different speakers from various countries and fields encourage and motivate youth. Debates and discussions and award ceremonies are also held. In 2018 and 2019 International Youth Day was hosted by Indian Youth Café, Chennai. The event has its own speciality in empowering the youth.
For 2020, the theme is “Youth Engagement for Global Action”. It aims to highlight different ways of engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels and enrich multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be enhanced. The government also wants help from youth in helping to create awareness among people regarding Covid-19. This will help to save all people especially the youth in being victims to Covid-19.
Prerna Rathod
The Fabindia School
prd@fabindiaschools.in