International Year of Youth launched

(August 13, 2010) The International Year of Youth kicked off on Thursday with the United Nations chief calling on all to harness the talents and energy of the world’s young people to promote better understanding and dialogue between different generations, cultures and religions. Dialogue and mutual understanding is the theme of the Year, which was formally launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York, to coincide with the August 12 International Youth Day. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon used his message for the Day to urge UN Member States to boost their investment in social and economic programmes that benefit the estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide aged between 15 and 24. “The energy of youth can ignite faltering economies,” he said. “I am regularly inspired by the goodwill, talent and idealism of the young people I meet across the world. They are making important contributions to our work to eradicate poverty, contain the spread of disease, combat climate change and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).” In the course of the International Year, the UN and its youth organization partners will focus on the need to encourage dialogue and ensure that young people are included in important policies and decision-making processes. “In a world where different people and traditions are coming closer with more frequent contact than ever before, it is crucial that young people learn how to listen intently, empathize with others, acknowledge divergent opinions, and be able to resolve conflicts,” Ban said. The International Labour Organization (ILO) unveiled a report on Wednesday showing that global youth unemployment has reached an all-time high, with 81 million of the world’s 620 million economically active youth out of work at the end of last year.