Empowering youth with comprehensive skills for peace and sustainable development is crucial.

FORUM: “Youth Skills for Peace and Development.“ World Youth Skills Day 2024. Reflecting on progress made and setting directions for future initiatives, the international community’s commitment to empowering youth with comprehensive skills for peace and sustainable development is crucial, particularly as young people are at the forefront of global efforts in shaping a peaceful, prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future. This ongoing commitment ensures that the educational strides we make are not only maintained but also adapted to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities of our global society. This observance will underscore the crucial role young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The world faces a multitude of challenges today, many of which affect the youth. Violent conflicts disrupting education and stability, a polarized online environment fostering negativity, and persistent economic inequality limits opportunities. These issues threaten not only individual futures but also the overall stability of societies. It is crucial to equip youth with the necessary skills for fostering a culture of peace, nurturing responsible global citizens, and promoting sustainable development to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all. On this World Youth Skills Day, let us unite in recognizing the potential of young people as agents of peace and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities to address challenges and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #15July, #WYSD, #WorldYouthSkillsDay.

EVENTS: At UNHQ; On July 15th; from 10:00 am - 11.30am EDT, to observe the World Youth Skills Day 2024, a hIgh level event entitled ’’Youth Skills for Peace and Development.’’ organized by the Permanent Mission of Portugal and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations New York, in collaboration with UNESCO-UNEVOC, the International Labour Organization, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, with Member States, young experts, social partners, teachers and educators, and other stakeholders, will be held. This event will bring also together students, governments, United Nations agencies, the private sector, and civil society representatives, to analyze the impact of current crises on youth globally and debate the options for young people to quickly adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world. The virtual panel discussion objectives are to: • Review effective practices and interventions to advance skills development that enables youth to contribute actively to peace and sustainable development. • Highlight youth’s contribution to the acceleration of the achievement of the SDGs especially those related to skills and decent work for peace and resilience, • Highlight the positive experiences and skills of young people that have contributed to a workplace free from violence and harassment. • Explore ways to foster social and emotional learning into education and training systems to equip youth with skills for empathy, resilience, and conflict resolution. • Explore ways to foster global citizenship education and integrate it in curricula at all levels of education, including TVET, to enhance understanding of global issues and empower youth to act as agents of change. More details on the event and Get involved!

From UNESCO; On July 15th, from 10:00 - 12:30 EST, a virtual event entitled ‘‘Building an equitable and inclusive future of work that fosters peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development.’’ will be held. Register to participate!

From UNESCO; On July 15th, from 10:00 - 12:30 EST, a virtual event entitled “AI Skills for the Future of Work." will be held. The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across various industries is transforming the landscape of work. To prepare youth for the jobs of the future, it is crucial to equip them with the necessary AI skills. The Global Skills Academy will host a dedicated session on "AI Skills for the Future of Work" to address this pressing need. Register to participate!

Virtually; On July 15th, Join us at the HESI Global Forum On "The Future of Higher Education for Sustainable Development." to engage in discussions on education, innovation, and sustainability with a focus on AI. Register to participate!

STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Youth Skills Day 2024; July 15th.