International Youth Day 2024, Background and its Theme

Every year since 2010, the 12th of August has been observed as International Youth Day. This day celebrates the potential of youth worldwide, highlights the issues confronting youth, and calls upon the international community to use youth in solving the problems of the Earth.

In India National Youth Day has been celebrated on 12 January since 1985. National Youth Day is observed in India on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Background to the International Youth Day 

In 1991, at the first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, held in the Austrian capital city of Vienna, it was proposed that the world celebrate International Youth Day to focus attention on the problems of youth and use their potential in solving the world’s problems.

Later at the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youths hosted by the Portugal government in association with the United Nations in 1998, adopted 12 August as International Youth Day.

Following this, the  United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on 17 December 2009 to observe 12 August as International Youth Day.

Thus, on 12 August 2010, the first International Youth Day was observed.

Theme of the 2024 International Youth Day 

The United Nations has chosen “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development” as the theme of the 2024 International Youth Day.

The theme highlights the possible contribution of the youth in using innovative digital solutions to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.