 12 August 2011 -- The theme for this year's International Youth Day is "Dialogue and Mutual Understanding". The choice of theme reflects the UN General Assembly's appreciation of the value of dialogue among youth from different cultures as well as among different generations. Today also marks the end of the International Youth Year, which also had dialogue and mutual understanding as its theme.
The UN General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organised to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995.
Source: UN Information Service
Selected learning materials
Study Guide on the Rights of Children & Youth
This guide introduces the main issues, international standards and protection mechanisms to protect and promote the human rights of children and youth.
Our Homes, Our Lives, Ourselves: A Fun Book to Help Young People Get the Issues Right Concerning Women in Human Settlements Development (UN Centre for Human Settlement)
A booklet intended to help teenagers get an idea what it is like to be a woman. The booklet includes a board game and sections on finance, land, information, networking, environment.
Resources for Human Rights Education in the Euro-Mediterranean Region: A practical introduction to methodologies in non-formal education (Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network)
This resource aims to present a range of methodologies for programme coordinators and trainers working with youth in non-formal education settings who want to initiate, build on or improve existing activities or programmes. Ten methodologies are presented, each organised in three parts.
COMPASS: A Manual on Human Rights Education with Young People (Council of Europe)
Manual provides youth leaders, teachers and other educators, with concrete ideas and practical activities to engage, involve and motivate young people to form a positive awareness of human rights. It promotes a broad understanding of HRE programmes and activities that focus on promoting equality in human dignity and sees young people as a resource.
International treaties on the rights of children and youth:
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
- Simplified version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- ILO Convention (No. 138) concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (1973)
- United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (1990)
Useful links
Organisations that promote and protect the rights of youth
UNICEF: Voices of Youth
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