The National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) joins the rest of the world in commemorating this year’s International Youth Day (IYD).
The IYD is commemorated on the 12th of August every year to draw attention to issues that concern young people worldwide.
The Commission welcomes the theme of this year’s commemoration – “Youth Engagement for Global Action” as appropriate for inspiring young people to play leading roles in the community and national development.
The Commission notes that the commemoration of the 2020 IYD comes at a time when Nigeria and the rest of the world continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement signed by the Director Media of National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) Fatima Agwai said the Commission notes with concern that the impact of the COVID-19pandemic on young people has been enormous and even leading to the denial of their fundamental human rights as enshrined under the Nigerian Constitution and other regional and international human rights instruments.
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On a social scale, the Executive Secretary stated, the pandemic has deprived young people of their rights to freedom of association, religion, human dignity, access to good living conditions.
The Commission (NHRC)further calls on governments at all levels to strengthen institutions and programs for the effective implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security which called for a six-pronged approach to ensuring the participation of youths in decision making in peace and security.
International Youth Day gives an opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement.
The commemoration will take the form of a podcast-style discussion that is hosted by youth for youth, together with independently organized commemorations around the world that recognize the importance of youth participation in political, economic and social life and processes.
