12 August 2011 | General, ISCH
International Youth Day
12 August 2011 is International Youth Day and the theme for this year is “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”. The aim of International Youth Day is to recognise the efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society.
International Youth Day wishes to promote ways of engaging the world’s youth and encouraging their
active involvement in their communities. This year’s theme - celebrated in the UN Year of Youth - reflects the General Assembly’s appreciation and recognition of the value of dialogue among youth from different cultures as well as from different generations.
COST has a specific Domain dedicated to research in the social sciences, entitled Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health (ISCH). The ISCH Domain supports the development of knowledge and insights for all citizens, democratic debate and decision-making in the public, private and voluntary spheres. Within this domain, Actions such as COST Action A19 support the ethos of International Youth Day.
COST Action A19 ‘Children’s Welfare’, which ended in 2006, determined that the balance between the welfare of the child, parental income and the role of the state is crucial to Europe’s future. The
Action identified the three most important issues as being children’s material welfare, their access to
their own time and space, and children’s rights, including how they can take part in public debate.
The Action’s overall conclusion is that children need to be acknowledged as being a contributing factor to the common good, rather than being viewed simply as a family responsibility – the key message of International Youth Day.
