Over 500 participants participated in the global launch of the International Year of Youth on Dialogue and Mutual Understanding which took place at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York yesterday.
In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the year commencing on August 12, 2010 the International Year of Youth on Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations. As youth possess tremendous energy and expertise to foster dialogue and mutual understanding, increased investments and concrete partnerships with them are needed to promote peace and inclusiveness locally and globally.
The launch brought together young leaders, artists and activists, representatives from governments, regional organizations and United Nations agencies with Youth Programming such as the UN Alliance of Civilizations. Sarah McCune, a 20-year old intern with the UN Alliance of Civilizations, read a poem on youth and mutual understanding that she composed specifically for this global launch.
While this event took place at the United Nations Headquarters, several Member States, youth organizations and their partners held national events in celebration of the International Year of Youth and of the important contributions of youth to their country’s development.
The International Year of Youth on Dialogue and Mutual Understanding is the perfect occasion for youth-led organizations and other decision-makers to partner for the realization of events, development of awareness-raising campaigns, creation of youth participation mechanisms, etc. In this context, several tools developed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development are available to support these efforts, such as the upcoming Activities Kit, the Official Calendar of Events, and the Facebook page at facebook.com/UNyouthyear . For more information on these tools and to download advocacy materials, visit the official website for the Year at: social.un.org/youthyear .
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations is organizing several activities under the umbrella of the International Year of Youth on Dialogue and Mutual Understanding such as the UNAOC Summer School in Portugal at the end of August, a panel discussions on the margins of the General Assembly in October 2010, the first conference of the Global Youth Movement for the Alliance of Civilizations later this fall in Azerbaijan, etc. More information on these activities will soon be posted at www.unaocyouth.org .
For more information about the Youth Programming of the Alliance of Civilizations, please contact Isabelle Legare, Youth Program Manager, at isabellel@unops.org or +1 212 457 1811.