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United Nations' International Youth Day Event 12 August

Jul 23, 2015

The United Nations' (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on 12 August every year in order to recognize the efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society. The goal is to promote ways to engage youth in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

The theme of International Youth Day 2015 is "Youth Civic Engagement." The engagement and participation of youth is essential to achieve sustainable human development. Yet often the opportunities for youth to engage politically, economically, and socially are low or non-existent. This event will showcase inspiring ways in which young people engage in civic, political, and social spheres, and will explore how the issue of youth civic engagement is an enabler for an enhanced and inclusive participation of young women and men in decision-making and public life. The event will bring together young people, youth organizations, Member State representatives, civil society, media and United Nations entities to discuss the issue of youth civic engagement in particular looking at new and emerging issues and approaches to social and political engagement in different parts of the world.

Youth Civic Engagement, a main goal of the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Youth, seeks to promote young people's effective inclusive civic engagement at all levels. There has been recent increasing attention and policy and programming focus on youth civic engagement by governments, UN entities, regional and multilateral organizations, youth, and researchers.

The International Youth Day 2015 campaign aims at promoting civic engagement and participation of youth in politics and public life, so that young people can be empowered and bring a full contribution to society, development and peace. You can be part of these efforts!

The Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development is running an online campaign in the lead up to International Youth Day. The campaign will open up a space for young people to share their stories and ideas on civic engagement activities. Young people will be able to share their message by submitting a photograph that relates to the theme, by tweeting ideas and opinions on the theme using #YouthDay, or by organizing an International Youth Day Event. Youth should contribute in the building and designing of their future!