International Youth Day is an international day for celebration of youth achievements, promotion of their voices and issues in global arena. In 1999, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference for Minister of Youths (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. And since then, it has been celebrated annually. International Youth Day gives an opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement.

The theme of International Youth Day 2020, “Youth Engagement for Global Action” seeks to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced. Just like previous years, this year also we are celebrating International Youth Day in next few days.

Youths are the future of Nation. Until and Unless, youths are educated, skilled, competent and hardworking, a nation cannot prosper. Young people are one of the main actors for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Young people are engaged in frameworks and processes that support its implementation, follow-up and review. They are the torch-bearers of the national development. The theme for 2020 invites us to interrogate further into how we can better support young people to be at the fore of global actions to promote sustainable development.

In Nepal, we have been celebrating it since 2000 AD and has been celebrated with great enthusiasm every year. Various Organizations like UNDP (United Nations Development Program), Nepal Youth Council, National Youth Council, Youth Advocacy Network, Association of Youth Organizations of Nepal, Yuwa and many others are organizing many programs this year as well to celebrate International Youth Day 2020.

References

https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day

https://genderjustice.org.za/news-item/international-youth-day-2020/