International Youth Year
The year 1985 was proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Youth Year (IYY). It was held to focus attention on issues of concern to and relating to youth. The proclamation was signed on 1 January 1985, by United Nations Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.
Events
[edit]Throughout the year, activities took place all over the world. These activities were coordinated by the Youth Secretariat within the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, at the time based at the UN offices in Vienna, Austria. The Secretariat's director, Mohammad Sharif, was also the Executive Secretary for IYY.[1] The President of IYY was Nicu Ceauşescu, son of the then dictator of Romania Nicolae Ceauşescu
While not organising any specific events itself, under the year's slogan of "Participation, Development, Peace", the IYY Secretariat helped facilitate numerous events helping to make IYY a success. On 11 October 1985, the Secretary-General of the UN, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, in his report to the General Assembly, summarised the principal activities for IYY.[2]
The main UN event for IYY was the World Congress on Youth (in Spanish: Congreso Mundial Sobre La Juventud) organised by UNESCO and held in Barcelona, Spain, 8–15 July 1985.[1] It issued the "Barcelona Declaration"[3] on youth.
Other international events mentioned in the Secretary General's report (11 October 1985 A/40/701):
- International Youth Conference and World Youth Festival (Kingston, Jamaica, 6–10 April 1985). Issued the "Kingston Declaration" on youth.[4]
- Friendly Gathering of Youth, (Beijing, China, 10–24 May 1985)
- 12th World Festival of Youth and Students, (Moscow, USSR, 27 July–3 August 1985)
- International Youth Year Conference on Law (Montreal, 5–9 August 1985)
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]- ^ a b Final Report (PDF). World Congress on Youth. Barcelona, Spain: United Nations. July 1985. p. 126.
- ^ "Preparations and observance of the International Youth Year : Participation, Development, Peace (UN/GA Document A/40/701)". United Nations. 11 October 1985.
- ^ The Barcelona Statement. World Congress on Youth. Barcelona, Spain: United Nations. July 1985.
- ^ Kesler, Charles R. (14 June 1985). "No fun in the sun". National Review. Retrieved 1 January 2009.[permanent dead link]
External links
[edit]- Image of a West German post stamp from 1985 featuring the emblem of the International Youth Year
- General Assembly resolution declaring IYY
- General Assembly resolution to continue work of IYY
- UN Youth Unit
- Dilecti Amici, Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II to the Youth of the World on the Occasion of International Youth Year on March 31, 1985
