12 August 2015: The world marked International Youth Day with celebrations and events around the world on the theme ‘Youth and Civic Engagement,” highlighting the role of young people in advancing solutions and changing societies. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reflected that young people do not accept poverty, conflicts and unemployment as their fate, but instead rise up to challenge power structures, speak for justice and human rights, and advocate global action for people and the planet.

Ban, addressing an event held by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Inter-agency Network on Youth Development at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 12 August 2015, said “Young people can help realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” and that today’s youth are the “SDG generation.” He called for support for young people’s health, well-being and rights, especially for women.

Ban also announced the launch of two new initiatives. He said his Youth Envoy’s office is launching a youth “Gateway” to engage young people in implementing the post-2015 development agenda. Next month, Ban said he will launch an updated Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.

Engaging young people in implementing the SDGs will be critical to their achievement, said Ahmad Alhendawi, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, in an interview.

“Young people must be considered the drivers of change and not only beneficiaries or targets,” stressed UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova. She said the ninth UNESCO Youth Forum, ‘Young Global Citizens for a Sustainable Planet,’ in October 2015 will engage youth in developing policies related to sustainable development and climate change. She noted that youth form a separate social group with specific expectations and characteristics.

Youth “have the ability to protect our environment and be the change our world needs,” said Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) Youth Ambassador Brianna Fruean. She stressed the power of youth to collectively make a difference during what she described as humankind’s “boldest, bravest, most imaginative and innovative time.” [UN Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNESCO Press Release] [SPREP Youth Ambassador Message] [UNRIC Press Release] [UN Event Page]