Geneva (Switzerland) International Youth Day is celebrated on 12 August 2020, established by the UN General Assembly in 1999 as an opportunity to give a voice to young people, their initiatives, and to foster their meaningful and universal participation in life and political, economic, and social processes.
This year’s theme “The Commitment of Young People for Global Action” aims to highlight experiences where the involvement of young people at local, national, and global levels enrich national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as looking for ways to encourage their representation and their commitment to institutional politics.
In the context that is being experienced of the pandemic of Covid-19 and towards the verification of the objectives of Agenda 2030, among 10 years, it is essential to listen to the voices of young people and take them into consideration in decision-making processes.
The celebration of International Youth Day 2020 takes place through Podcasts conducted by young people who interview other young people who present the different modes of action and political commitment at local, national, and global levels. The dialogues on the themes alternate with creative and artistic moments. The event is also celebrated with several various initiatives in the whole world.
This event is in line with the commitment of the Office of Human Rights IIMA of Geneva and of VIDES International to promote the empowerment of the young through human rights and advance the Agenda of the young within the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.
Pope Francis in his post synod exhortation Christus Vivit, underlines:
“You are the ones who hold the future! Through you, the future enters into the world. I ask you also to be protagonists of this transformation. You are the ones who hold the key to the future! Continue to fight apathy and to offer a Christian response to the social and political troubles emerging in different parts of the world. I ask you to build the future, to work for a better world.” (CV 174).
