International Youth Day today

International Youth Day is being observed worldwide on Wednesday (August 12), highlighting the rights, potential and development needs of young people and calling for their greater participation in decision-making and public life.

This year’s theme, “Different Contexts, Shared Aspirations,” focuses on the common aspirations of young people despite differences in geography, culture and social circumstances.

In a message marking the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the contributions of young people and called for their greater inclusion in policymaking. He said young people across the world, despite living in different circumstances, share fundamental aspirations for dignity, meaningful participation and opportunities to develop their potential.

Young people are playing an increasingly important role in technology, education, innovation, environmental protection and social change. They are also driving entrepreneurship, volunteering, digital innovation and community initiatives while increasingly speaking out against climate change, inequality, racism, violence and social injustice.

Yet the generation faces significant challenges, including unemployment, limited access to quality education, skills gaps, inequality and growing social pressures. Addressing these challenges will require greater investment in education, skills development and employment, as well as safe and inclusive environments where young people’s voices are taken seriously.

The UN has officially observed International Youth Day since 2000. The date was proposed at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1998, before the UN General Assembly endorsed the observance the following year.

The day carries particular significance for Bangladesh, where people aged 18 to 35 are officially recognised as youth under the National Youth Policy. With a large share of the population falling within this age group, policymakers and development experts have stressed the need to invest in education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship to fully harness the country’s demographic dividend.

Young Bangladeshis are already contributing across sectors including the garment industry, overseas employment, information technology and entrepreneurship. They are also active in disaster response, environmental protection, community service and social initiatives.

International Youth Day therefore serves not only as a celebration of young people but also as a reminder of the responsibility of governments and societies to create the opportunities and conditions needed for the next generation to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.