11 August 2011: The UN has marked the end of the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, which began on 12 August 2010. This International Year of Youth (IYY) had three key objectives: to increase commitment and investment in youth; to encourage partnerships with young people and intensify their participation in society and in decision-making processes; and to foster dialogue and mutual understanding among youth.

The IYY also celebrated the leadership of young people in practicing environmental responsibility and developing innovative uses of technologies.

The UN designates as young people those aged between 15 and 24, and estimates that one-fifth of the world’s population are youth, about 1.2 billion people, with approximately 87 percent living in developing countries and facing limited access to education and employment options.

The IYY was established on December 2009 by the UN General Assembly (A/RES/64/134). [UN DESA News] [International Year of Youth Website] [UN High-Level Meeting on Youth, 25-26 July 2011] [Fact Sheet: Youth Employment]