International Youth Day 2024, set to be celebrated on 16 August, marks a significant occasion for youth empowerment and global collaboration. The event is organized by AFS Intercultural Programs in collaboration with the United Nations International Organization for Migration (UN IOM), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations.
This year’s theme, “Empowering Youth for Peace and Security,” aligns with the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda, reflecting on a decade of progress since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015). This ground-breaking resolution recognized young persons as agents of positive change, particularly in peace and security, established the YPS agenda as well as its five pillars: participation, protection, prevention, partnerships, and disengagement and reintegration. The Security Council subsequently adopted two follow-up resolutions 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020), which urged Member States to consider ways to increase inclusive representation of young persons in decision making at all levels, including possible integrated mechanisms for young persons to participate meaningfully in peace processes and conflict resolution.
Amidst the backdrop of several security challenges, such as armed conflicts, climate change, political instability, terrorism and violent extremism around the world affecting societies, this event aims to shed light on the disproportionate impact that these security challenges have on young persons, especially young women, and their transformative contributions to resolve them. The event will also explore best practices in effectively integrating young persons in peace and security, including conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and transitional justice, highlighting the positive contributions of youth and women-led initiatives to peace and security.
At the pivotal juncture of the 2024 Summit of the Future and the implementation of the New Agenda for Peace, this event aims to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the YPS agenda and identify challenges and gaps for its full institutionalization. It will also be an opportunity to reflect on the findings of the third report of the UN Secretary-General on YPS (S/2024/207).
The event will also highlight the importance of youth participation in the upcoming Summit of the Future and the Pact for the Future, underscoring the critical role of young people in shaping a secure and inclusive future.
