Int'l Year of Youth begins tomorrow
International Year of Youth proclaimed by the United Nations begins
tomorrow themed "Dialogue and Mutual Understanding". The Year will end
on August 11 next year.
August 12, the launching day of the Youth Year also marks the
International Youth Day.
The UN General Assembly adopting the resolution proclaiming the
International Year of Youth in December last year called on governments,
civil societies, individuals and communities world-wide to support
activities at local and international levels to mark the event.
The Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human
rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and
civilizations.
It also encourages young people to dedicate themselves to fostering
progress, including the attainment of the UN Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills, ranging from
extreme poverty and hunger to maternal and infant mortality to lack of
access to education and healthcare, all by 2015. The UN defines youth as
those between the ages of 15 to 24. Today, youth represent 18 percent of
the global population or 1.2 billion people.
87 percent of youth live in developing countries facing challenges
brought about by limited access to resources, healthcare, education,
training, employment and economic opportunities. Member States of the
United Nations recognize that young people in all countries are a major
human resource for development, positive social change and technological
innovation.
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