The United Nations (UN)’s International Youth Day is annually observed across the globe on 12 August to honor young people and their contributions to society. The day also brings the youth issues to the attention of the international community and recognise their potential as global partners.
- The day aims to celebrate and amplify young people’s voices, actions, and initiatives and encourage meaningful, universal, and equitable youth engagement across all sectors of society.
Theme:
The theme of International Youth Day 2024 is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”.
- The 2024 theme highlights the role of digitalization in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising the importance of youth contributions to this digital transformation.
Background:
i.The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by youth, who gathered for the 1st session of the UN System’s World Youth Forum in Vienna, Austria.
- The Forum recommended that an International Youth Day be declared, especially for fund-raising and promotional purposes, to support the UN Youth Fund (UNYF) in partnership with youth organizations.
ii.In 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as International Youth Day was adopted by the 1st session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (WCMRY).
- The WCMRY was hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the UN in Lisbon, Portugal from 8-12 August 1998.
iii.In 1999, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at its 54th session endorsed the recommendation in its resolution A/RES/54/120 entitled “Policies and programmes involving youth.”
iv.The 1st International Youth Day was observed on 12th August 2000.
2024 Events:
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN-Habitat, and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) organised a series of online events commemorating International Youth Day 2024.
- Together, these partnerships highlighted the transformative potential of youth-driven digital solutions in advancing sustainable development.
Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development
i.Digital transformation is seen as having catalytic effects across the SDGs, and a significant determinant for achieving the Goals.
ii.Digital technologies, including mobile devices and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are critical in achieving 70% of the 169 SDG targets.
iii.Digital technologies can significantly reduce the costs of achieving the SDGs by up to USD 55 trillion.
Youth and Digital Adoption:
i.Over two-thirds of the global population used the internet in 2023, and mobile phone subscriptions reached 8.63 billion in 2022.
ii.Internet access in the least developed countries increased to 36% of the population in 2023 from 7% in 2015.
- While connectivity in high-income and Upper-Middle-Income Countries (UMICs) reached 92% and 79%, respectively
iii.In 2022, 75% of people aged 15 to 24, a rate 10% higher than the rest of the age groups, used the internet, leading to digital innovation.
iv.Disparities exist, especially in low-income countries, women have less access to the internet than men, globally (63% of women compared to 69% of men).
United Nations and Youth:
i.In 1979, the UNGA adopted a resolution A/RES/34/151, designating the year 1985 as International Youth Year (IYY): Participation, Development, Peace.
ii.In December 2009, the UNGA adopted a resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the year commencing 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth (IYY): Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.
- 2010 coincided with the 25th anniversary of the 1st IYY in 1985.
iii.The UN youth agenda is guided by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), which was adopted by the UNGA in 1995.
iv.The WPAY provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support, improving the situation of youth around the world.
- It covers 15 youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas.
Youth 2030: The UN Youth Strategy:
i.Youth2030, launched in 2018, is the first-ever UN system-wide strategy on youth, guiding joint UN action for and with young people globally in achieving the SDGs.
ii.It focuses on 5 key priority areas namely, Engagement, Participation, and Advocacy; Informed and Healthy Foundations; Economic Empowerment through Decent Work; Youth and Human Rights; and Peace and Resilience Building.
Youth2030: Progress Report 2024:
i.The 4th edition of the Youth2030 Progress Report 2024 provides an overview of the implementation of the Youth Strategy across the UN system.
ii.It represents a significant milestone, marking 6 years since the launch of Youth2030, the UN Youth Strategy.
iii.By comparing baseline data from the UN Country Team (UNCTs) (2020) and UN entities (2021) with the latest reported data in 2023, the 2024 report offers a comprehensive overview of the progress in the implementation of Youth2030.
- The document is based on reporting from 50 UN entities and 132 UNCTs.
