12 August is observed annually as International Youth Day. It 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. The first IYD was observed on 12 August 2000.
The objective of International Youth Day 2022 is to amplify the message that action is needed across all generations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leave no one behind. It will also raise awareness of certain barriers to intergenerational solidarity, notably ageism, which impacts young and old persons while having detrimental effects on society as a whole.
There are other thematic days. International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on 11 February. World Day Against Child Labour is observed on 12 June. World Youth Skills Day, International Day of the Girl Child, and World Children’s Day are observed on 15 July, 11 October, and 20 November respectively. Another two similar observations are the International Year of Youth and International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace which were observed in 2010 and 1985 respectively.
On the observance day, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in his message conveyed
On this important day, let’s join hands across generations to break down barriers, and work as one to achieve a more equitable, just and inclusive world for all people.
The theme of International Youth Day 2022
Every year, we celebrate International Youth Day on 12 August. The theme of International Youth Day 2022 is “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages” — reminds us of a basic truth: we need people of all ages, young and old alike, to join forces to build a better world for all.
Quick facts about Youths
Here are quick facts about Youths across the globe:
- Half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this number is expected to reach 57% by 2030.
- According to a survey, 67% of respondents believe in a better future, with 15 to 17-year-olds showing the greatest optimism.
- The majority of people agree that the age balance in politics is unbalanced. Across all age groups, more than two-thirds (69%) agree that younger people should have more opportunities to participate in policy development and change.
- In the world, only 2.6% of parliamentarians are under 30 years of age, and less than 1% of these young MPs are female.
History of International Youth Day
On August 12, 2000, the first International Youth Day was celebrated, and since then the day has been used to educate the general public. It was established when the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth recommended it to the UN General Assembly on December 17, 1999. Since 1965, the United Nations General Assembly has been actively involved in educating and inspiring young people. It was agreed to promote the values of peace, respect for others, and intercultural understanding in the declaration.