International Youth Day (IYD) is the brainchild of the United Nations, and was first celebrated on

12th August 2000, after the UN General Assembly passed a resolution accepting the
recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon in
1998. The UN uses celebrations like these to draw public awareness to problems surrounding a
particular global demographic and, IYD focuses on the youth, their issues and their
contributions.

The UN offers resources like promotional material, ideas for events, training material etc.
through its subsidiary agencies as well as its website, for independent entities world over to
celebrate the day. They also declare a theme for the year that communicates the scope,
direction, and objectives of the year's youth initiatives, such "Change Our World" for IYD 2011.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said "Youth should be given a chance to take an
active part in the decision-making of local, national and global levels." All persons between the
ages of 15 and 24 qualify as the youth, and according to 2010 statistic, they constitute 18% of
the global population, with 87% of international youth residing in developing countries.

International Youth Day focuses on the rights of these young people to have full access to
education, adequate healthcare, employment opportunities, financial services and full
participation in public life. In a climate of economic uncertainty, it is all the more important for
countries to invest in opportunities for their youth to learn, earn and grow so that the common
future lies in good hands. In 1985, the World Program of Action for Youth was set up to define a
policy framework and guidelines for national action and international support to improve the
situation of young people. It is just one of the many extensive efforts of the United Nations to
help member states reach out to their youth. Along with ensuring their rights, an equally
important goal of IYD is to shape the youth not just as a passive beneficiary of development
efforts, but as a force for positive social change. They are a source of innovation, creativity,
energy and foresight, and member states must use all means possible to foster and harness the
power of the youth. These are the ideals of International Youth Day.

It is celebrated through events, seminars and programs from an international to a local level.
Anyone can organize an event. Recommendations also include talking to local politicians and
business-owners, so that the government, corporate and development sectors can work
together for the advancement of society. Initiatives have also focused youth attention on
particular issues like HIV/AIDS, and recent data from UNAIDS indicates that HIV prevalence has
dropped by more than 25% among young people in 15 out of 21 countries most affected by HIV.
The youth is leading the change, and International Youth Day ensures that they have the ability,
skill, motivation and recognition to continue to do so.

On 17 December 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed
the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon,
8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
Since the adoption of Security Council Resolution S/RES/2250 (2015) in 2015, there is growing
recognition that as agents of change, young peoples inclusion in the peace and security agenda
and in society more broadly, is key to building and sustaining peace. Another Security Council
Resolution S/RES/2282 (2016) reaffirms the important role youth can play in deterring and
resolving conflicts, and are key constituents in ensuring the success of both peacekeeping and
peacebuilding efforts.

"Youth Building Peace"

International Youth Day 2017 is dedicated to celebrating young peoples contributions to conflict
prevention and transformation as well as inclusion, social justice, and sustainable peace.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development committed to fostering peaceful and inclusive
societies and affirmed that Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and
security. Goal 16 aims to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative
decision-making at all levels. The World Programme of Action for Youth, which provides a policy
framework and practical guidelines to improve the situation of young people, also encourages
promoting the active involvement of youth in maintaining peace and security.