【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2009年8月13日美國紐約訊】─
聯合國秘書長潘基文，於八月十二日，為聯合國國際青年日致辭時表示：「應確保青少年接受全面教育及保健服務，並提供足夠的就業機會，讓他們參與社會生活。」
一九九九年十二月十七日，聯合國大會接納了一九九八年八月在里斯本舉行的國際青少年政策部長級會議的建議，宣佈八月十二日為國際青年日，二零零零年首次慶祝。
國際青年日尋求推動社會各階層青年的參與，並反省他們的問題和需要。目標之一為衡量國際青年行動計劃實施後，透過論壇、公眾討論及資訊運動，喚起人們關注青少年。
全球約有二十億年齡介乎十五至二十四歲的青年，其中八億五千萬居住在發展中國家。
本年度國際青年日主題為「可持續發展 ─ 我們的挑戰．我們的未來」，旨在喚起人們對環境、社會、經濟這三個生活層面的關注。
International Youth Day
(ANS – United States - New York, 13 August 2009 ) – “Young people deserve full access to education, adequate health systems and have a right to full participation in social life”, Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon said yesterday, 12 August, for the International Youth Day set up by the UN.
On 17 December 1999, the UN General Assembly took up the invitation of the World Conference of Ministers for Youth Policies in Lisbon, August 1998, declaring the 12th August as International Youth Day. It was first celebrated in 2000.
International Youth Day seeks to foster the participation of youth in all areas of society, and reflection on their questions and needs. One of its aims is to evaluate what has been achieved following the World Action Programme for Youth Through forums, public discussion and information campaigns, they try to call attention to youth.
The world has around 2000 million young people between 15 and 24 years of age of whom 850 million live in underdeveloped countries.
The theme for this year is, “Sustainability: Our change. Our future”, an invitation to draw attention to three basic aspects of life: environment, society, economy.