TASHKENT, 12 August - Every year 12th of August marks the International Youth Day to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, promote young people’s empowerment, support their initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal, and equitable engagement.

This year to mark the International Youth Day, UN agencies in Uzbekistan together with the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan Volunteer Association are jointly organizing a celebration event at “Central Park” in Tashkent.

The International Youth Day celebration will include an educational and participatory quests, a concert programme, a theatrical performance, flash mobs, the award ceremony for the winners of the video contest dedicated to the International Youth Day focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

More than 200 young people are expected to take part in the youth day celebration by participating in educational master classes, info-sessions and workshops in such areas as gender equality, education, reproductive health, mental health, employment, environment, and agrarian business. Participants will also be able to learn about the SDGs and how to share their voice to issues that matter to them through the activities of UN agencies in Uzbekistan.

In present-day Uzbekistan, children and young people below 30 years of age constitute 60 percent of the population. In 15-20 years, they will become the largest labour force Uzbekistan has ever had, presenting a unique opportunity to take the country to a new level of socioeconomic development.

In overall, all activities and sessions will encourage and mobilize young people to become agents of change to attain the SDGs, bring them closer to the United Nations through  acquiring information on  the work of system in Uzbekistan,  promote exchange of ideas and skills between old and young generations and strengthen partnerships.

This year’s theme for International Youth Day, “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages” and aims to amplify the message that action is needed across all generations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leave no one behind.