IYY Activities
Harnessing the Power of Young People with Disabilities as Partners for Development
On September 7th, the UN Programme on Youth hosted a side-event on youth with disabilities in cooperation with the NGO Leonard Cheshire Disability, the Secretariat to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNICEF and UNESCO. Read more.
International Youth Day 2011: Change Our World
As you know, this year’s International Youth Day will represent the culmination of the International Year of Youth (IYY) – designated by the United Nations to comprise the 12 month period between IYD 2010 and IYD 2011 – and the 25th Anniversary of the first International Year of Youth. As such, “Change Our World” has been chosen as the theme for IYD 2011 as it not only expresses the level of impact that young people strive to achieve, but also reflects the notion of a global community that is a core principle of the United Nations. Read more.
International Year of Youth: Culmination Celebration
On the final day of the International Year of Youth, the United Nations Programme on Youth will join together with the United Nations Youth Champion, Ms. Monique Coleman, and the Allykatzz organization, to hold a Culmination Celebration. The event will serve to address youth issues and concerns and to commemorate the International Year of Youth by focusing on the role girls and young women play in advancing dialogue and mutual understanding at all levels in society, from grassroots to national and international levels, with a view to encouraging broader and long-term social progress. More.
High-Level Meeting on Youth calls for global strategy on youth employment
More than 500 young people from around the world converged on the United Nations Headquarters to attend the High-Level Meeting on Youth, which opened on Monday, 25 July 2011.
A moment of silence was observed at the opening in remembrance of the victims of the terror attacks in Norway. Expressing condolences to the people of Norway, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said, “This atrocity stands in stark opposition to the theme of this meeting, which is dialogue and mutual understanding”. Read more.
Briefing session on Youth and Armed Conflict
The UN Programme on Youth (UNPY) is hosting a briefing session on Youth and Armed Conflict in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations and the Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC). The session is being held in the context of the International Year of Youth. A panel discussion, moderated by Ms Chantale Walker, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Untied Nations, will see young people, member states and UN experts discuss violations and abuses of young people in conflict zones, including attacks on schools and hospitals. Flyer of the event
Side Event on Indigenous Youth Initiatives
A side event on Indigenous Youth Initiatives to Promote and Protect the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is being held in the context of the tenth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and as a means to celebrating the International Year of Youth. The event will address how indigenous youth, through youth led projects and initiatives, are making a difference in protecting and promoting their rights. The event will take place on Thursday 19 May in UNICEF House, New York.
Empowering Disadvantaged Girls and Young Women
The UN Programme on Youth (UNPY) hosted a briefing session on Empowering
Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Girls and Young Women, in the context of the International Year
of Youth. Read the DESA News report of the briefing session and check out some photos.
Check out also our new released Fact Sheet on Girls and Young Women.
The UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution A/65/L.63 on the Organization of the High-level Meeting on Youth.
English | Français | Español
Русский | عربي | 汉语
As part of the International Youth Year, the General Assembly held a High Level Meeting on Youth on 25 and 26 July 2011. The high-level meeting had as its overarching theme “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”.
The UN Programme on Youth is hosting a briefing session on Youth and HIV/AIDS on 25 March 2011. The AIDS epidemic poses one of the most formidable challenges to the world at large. In 2008, young people accounted for 40 per cent of all new HIV infections in people aged 15 years and older.
Flyer of the event
The UN Programme on Youth is hosting a briefing session on Youth and Environment on 9 March 2011. This session will examine the many ways in which young people contribute to sustainable living and environmental awareness through involvement in advocacy, national adaptation and mitigation actions, as well as international negotiations. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources and building adaptive capacity and resilience are just two examples of how young people have already been promoting environmental awareness.
Flyer of the event
The UN Programme on Youth, of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (UNDESA) together with Search for Common Ground organized a panel discussion on “Youth-led Social Development and Young Philanthropy” on 8 February 2011 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Flyer of the event
Biographies
International Year of Youth Briefing Sessions
The Programme on Youth, of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (UNDESA), is organizing a series of Briefing Sessions in celebration of the International Year of Youth (2010-2011).
Click here for more information.
Young people set the agenda at unprecedented Security Council meeting
From tackling terrorism and climate change to ending poverty and conflict, young people from around the world made their voices heard on the most vital challenges facing their generation during a unique event held on 21 December 2010 with the 15 members of the Security Council at United Nations Headquarters. More than 150 New York City school students and other young people from around the world participated in the event, entitled “Your World, Your Future: Voices of a New Generation” which sought to bring the voices of youth – who make up nearly half of the global population – directly to the Council.
Secretary-General’s remarks | Photos | Video1 | Video 2 | UN Radio
The United Nations appointed Actress Monique Coleman as UN Youth Champion
The UN appointed Disney actress and youth activist Monique Coleman as a “Youth Champion” for the International Year of Youth at a press conference on 16 November 2010.
Ms. Coleman is best known for her character Taylor McKessie in the “High School Musical” movies and her recurring role as Mary-Margaret on “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”. Most recently, she launched an online talk show, “Gimme MO’”, to empower youth.
UN Staff run in Beirut marathon for International Year of Youth
Around 40 staff members from the UN family in Lebanon gathered in Beirut on 7 November 2010 under a clear blue sky to join thousands of runners in the Beirut International Marathon, one of the biggest events in the Lebanese sporting calendar. Lebanon’s prime Minister Saad Hariri kicked off the race and, together with senior Lebanese officials, ran with the large crowd.
Activities Kit: A Guide to celebrating the International Year of Youth
The UN Programme on Youth (UNPY) together with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the World Organization of the Scout Movement has developed the Activities Kit: A guide to celebrating the International Year of Youth. The purpose of this Kit is to provide youth with practical guidance and concrete examples to organize and implement activities throughout the Year and beyond.
Global Launch of the International Year of Youth, 12 August 2010
On 12 August 2010, the United Nations launched the International Year of Youth, under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, to generate much needed attention for youth participation and youth development at local, national and global levels.
The Year provides an important opportunity to increase commitment to youth, promote youth participation and enhance inter-cultural dialogue and understanding among youth.
Joint Statement by Heads of UN Entities.
Visual Voices – Youth perspectives on Global Issues
Visual Voices invites you to join the dialogue as it showcases photos from young people around the world that capture their views on Governance, Climate Change and Gender – three key topics, important to youth and the United Nations.
In celebration of the year, we invite you to view and interact with these Visual Voices. Please join the dialogue and let us know what you think about these topics by using the Video Booth or Comments Board. The exhibit is open to the public from 1 August until early September 2010, and is displayed in the UN Visitors Lobby in New York. Press Release.
The UN Programme on Youth is pleased to launch the new logo for the International Year of Youth. The official slogan for the International Year of Youth (IYY) is: Our Year. Our Voice.
The official logo for IYY is available to download and attach onto promotional materials for events organized in celebration of the Year. Please read very carefully the IYY logo disclaimer and the guidelines for its use. Downloading the logo will be at no cost and available once the liability waiver has been signed and submitted to the UN Programme on Youth (UNPY). The logo is available in all six official languages of the United Nations.