[child-rights] International Youth Day - 12 August 2004

***Find out more about International Youth Day at:
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/international-youth-day.php


UNESCO Press release
Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

09-08-2004 - International Youth Day has been celebrated annually since
1999 as an occasion for focusing attention on the needs of all young
people - defined by the United Nations to mean those aged between 10 and
24.

The theme of International Youth Day 2004, "Youth and Intergenerational
Relations:  Young People and the Tenth Anniversary of the International
Year of the Family", is a timely reminder of the importance of
intergenerational solidarity. This is particularly the case in today's
changing world, where major economic, social, cultural, political and
demographic changes are forcing us to redefine traditional family and
community structures. The rapidity with which populations are changing and
will continue to change will also require us to think carefully about the
support structures, for young and old alike, that we require and desire.

Young people currently make up one-fifth of the world's population. By
2050, however, the proportion of those aged over 60 will increase from 10
to 21%, while those aged 15 and under will drop from 30 to 21%. This means
that, for the first time, the proportion of children/young adolescents and
older persons will be equal.

While developed countries are already having to address the rapid ageing
of their populations, developing countries are also facing major
challenges: high youth unemployment, growing numbers of children orphaned
by HIV/AIDS, and disproportionately high numbers of young people
themselves infected. These and other challenges are placing enormous
strains on already stretched resources and affecting the very fabric of
society everywhere.

UNESCO considers the intergenerational approach to be an effective and
inclusive instrument for its lifelong learning programmes like "Learning
Throughout Life for All". UNESCO's contribution to this year's theme will
therefore concentrate on its work within the United Nations Literacy
Decade (2003­2012). In this context, UNESCO considers "intergenerational"
to include the following: older people working with children and youth;
children and youth serving older people; older adults and youth
collaborating to serve the community; and older adults and youth together
involving themselves in informal learning activities. We look to the
UNESCO Clubs to play an important role in such intergenerational
activities.

Furthermore, UNESCO will continue to work with civil society groups to
promote intergenerational dialogue and to encourage greater awareness of
this important issue among community groups of all ages. To this end, we
will continue the promotion of voluntary service programmes, the
development of young women scientists through our partnership with
L'Oréal, the extension of projects such as "World Heritage in Young
Hands", and the focus on projects which improve teacher quality,
programmes which are all aimed at generating intergenerational dialogue
and understanding.

The United Nations will celebrate this year's International Youth Day as
the culmination of a week-long World Youth Festival, to be held in
Barcelona from 8 to 14 August 2004, within the context of the Universal
Forum of Cultures. From 9 to 12 August 2004, UNESCO will organise a Youth
Forum that will be attended by some 10,000 young people. Let us join
together to make this Youth Forum a success and to commit ourselves to
better integrating the needs and aspirations of youth into UNESCO's
programmes.

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