Today is International Youth Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding the youth. But what exactly is it and why is it relevant?
The first International Youth Day was observed on August 12, 2000. On the set day, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials and youth organizations take place around the world.
This year, the theme is tagged ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’, and according to the United Nations website, “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.”
Given how important the youth are in society, setting a day aside to celebrate and engage them as stated above is a commendable venture.
The International Youth Day 2020 is hosted by the youth for the youth in a podcast that will showcase how young people are crucial partners in political processes and development.
It also aims to draw lessons with regard to how youth representation and participation in politics can be enhanced, especially for the purpose of responding to global challenges.
