International Youth Day

Today is International Youth Day. It recognises the potential of youth. This year's theme is "Be seen, Be heard: Youth Participation for Development".

The International Youth Day has been designated following a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in 1999 in response to a recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth in Lisbon in August 1998.

Around 1.2 billion or 18 percent of the world's population are youth. Almost one person in five is between 15 and 24 years.

The majority 85 per cent of the world's youth live in developing countries, mostly in Asia and the others in the regions of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The youth unemployment rate in the world has increased and is the highest in West Asia. Poverty, education, employment, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency are key factors relating to youth which have been revealed in the world youth report of UN.

- AN