KARACHI: Endorsing the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth held in Lisbon from 8th till 12th of August, 1998, UN General Assembly has declared 12th day of August International Youth Day (IYD).
On the occasion UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all concerned to enable the world’s youth to enjoy lives of safety, dignity and opportunity: “The vulnerabilities of young refugees, displaced persons, young women and girls and others caught up in conflict or disaster have grown more acute.
“A generation’s very formation has been jeopardized, their steps towards adulthood, identity and self-sufficiency thrown off course. Some have taken on care burdens or are suffering from increased risks of hunger, violence in the home or the prospect of never being able to resume their education.
“But this generation is also resilient, resourceful and engaged. They are the young people who have risen up to demand climate action. They are mobilizing for racial justice and gender equality and are the champions of a more sustainable world.
“They are peace-builders promoting social cohesion at a time of social distancing, advancing an end to violence globally and advocating harmony at a time of rising hatred. Many are young women who have been on the frontlines in mobilizing for justice and climate action – while also serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.
“I call on leaders and adults everywhere to do everything possible to enable the world’s youth to enjoy lives of safety, dignity and opportunity and contribute to the fullest of their great potential.”
Youth Engagement for Global Action is the theme of International Youth Day 2020. IYD 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. UN is also attempting to draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.
COVID-19: ILO has noted that economic impact of COVID-19 is set to make the job market more challenging for youth. ILO reports that in the first quarter of 2020, about 5.4% of global working hours, that is equivalent to 155 million full-time jobs, were lost.
Employment: Six hundred million jobs would have to be created over the next one-n-a-half decades in order to meet youth employment needs. Unfortunately, the proportion of young people not in employment, education or training has remained high over the last one-n-a-half decades.
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