Tehran – International Youth Day (IYD) is observed annually on August 12th to highlight the potential of youth as partners in the global society and the importance of strengthening engagement in community development.
This year’s theme, “Behavior of Local Youths since the SDGS,” highlights the unique role of young people in translating global ambitions into community-driven reality.
Our development partners work to translate and implement global goals within a specific local context, and young people are key partners to meet the needs of our community, while maintaining consistency with national and international commitments.
They bring creativity, insights and deep community ties that help bridge the gap between policy and practice. Young people engagement is not a luxury as more than 65% of SDG targets are linked to local governance. It is necessary.
This year’s IYD also highlights the key roles of local governments and local governments. Because they are closest to the communities they serve, they are uniquely laid out to create an inclusive policy environment, allocate resources, and establish mechanisms for young people’s participation in local planning and decision-making.
By integrating youth priorities into local and local strategies and fostering partnerships with youth organizations, authorities can work with youth to turn ideas into impactful solutions.
If local governments provide space for innovation, guidance and civic engagement, they will not only accelerate implementation of the SDGs, but also develop future community leaders and changemakers.
This year’s IYD will take on the additional importance as it coincides with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the World Action Program for Youth. This remains a guideline framework for recognizing youth as key actors in sustainable development and participatory governance. This is directly reflected in this year’s theme. Discussions relating to the 2025 IYD theme also inform the preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development, which will be held in Doha in November.
As the world embarks on its final stretch for 2030, IYD 2025 calls for real investment in comprehensive policies and programs that leverage the actions of local youth in the SDG.
The youth population can contribute to a hopeful future
“In today’s world where competition between countries is more dependent on knowledge and human resource productivity than ever before, factors other than the youth population cannot contribute to a hopeful future in any country,” said Alireza Raeisi, a health ministry official. Officials made their remarks on the National Population Week opportunity observed from May 14th to 20th.
Iran is passing through the window of population opportunity. This is the period during which the majority of the population is working age. Known as a unique opportunity for economic, social and cultural growth, a comprehensive police force is needed in the fields of health, employment, education, welfare and family.
But ignoring this opportunity could lead the country to face many demographic challenges, including aging, shrinking workforce, and disruptions in the balance between generations in the not too distant future.
Officials detailed the services offered by the Ministry of Health. These include providing free educational courses for young couples, supporting more than 300 non-government anti-abortion centres, training trainers to develop health-conscious family cultures, and establishing a digital birth registration system in hospitals.
Free natural birth services to promote safe and physiological births, large insurance coverage for infertility treatment (up to 90%), free pregnancy consultations, and educational programs are among other measures taken by the Ministry of Health in line with the Youth Population Act.