International Youth Day, 12 August 2012

                                              United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

 

Each year on 12 August, International Youth Day (IYD) is assigned a theme; a conceptual slogan that communicates the scope, direction, and objectives of the year’s youth initiatives and that also provides a unifying banner from under which individuals can draw the inspiration to take action. The theme chosen for International Youth Day 2012 – Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth – is a global call to action for young men and women, as well as other stakeholders around the world, to develop and engage in partnerships with and for youth towards building a better world.

 

International Youth Day 2012 provides an important opportunity to build upon the priorities of the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda, as well as to respond to calls from youth organizations and UN Member States around the world to strengthen mechanisms for partnerships with young people by exploring various and innovative ways that the United Nations, Member States, civil society, the private sector, academia and philanthropists effectively partner and collaborate with young people, especially in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and reproductive health.

 

Collective and concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders is needed to respond to the pressing global challenges faced by young people, and partnering is key to harnessing such efforts. Partnerships can increase opportunities for success by leveraging comparative advantages, resources, shared interests and diversity to enhance the impact of each individual partner’s efforts. Through working proactively to forge meaningful partnerships with young people and youth organizations, we can ensure that we lay the foundation for building a better world.

 

International Youth Day 2012 aims to highlight good practices in developing and expanding successful partnerships with young people, and to put forward concrete recommendations on how the United Nations and stakeholders around the world can build and enhance partnerships with youth.

 

Celebrate International Youth Day 2012 by telling us about your efforts to partner with and for youth for a better world!

 

We also want to hear from you about how you think the United Nations should partner with young people, especially in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and reproductive health. Do you have a successful partnership that you want to tell us about, or a concrete recommendation you would like to share?

 

Email us your success stories and recommendations to: youth@un.org 

 

 

 

Team up! Reach out to Governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, the private sector and young people and get key actors involved in strengthening mechanisms for partnerships with and for young people by exploring various and innovative ways that the United Nations, Member States, civil society, the private sector, academia and philanthropists can partner and collaborate with young people, especially in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and reproductive health.

 

Organize! Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in support of young people, focusing on strengthening mechanisms for partnerships with and for young people around the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and   reproductive health.

 

Celebrate! Plan and organize performances to showcase and celebrate how youth contribute to the societies in which they live, and how everyone, through partnerships with and for youth, can build a better world.

 

Tell us! What are your recommendations for how the United Nations can better partner and work with young people in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and reproductive health.

 

Email us your plans for commemorating International Youth Day 2012 in your community: youth@un.org