International Youth Day: #MLADIGOVORE (Youth have their say) in four municipalities in Serbia

Serbia joins global campaign and marking of the International Youth Day with peer workshops and activities with youth in four local municipalities- Novi Pazar, Kragujevac, Sremski Karlovci and Sombor, within the joint United Nations project “Peer Mentoring Program for promotion of human rights, gender equality and increased youth participation in Serbia."

Marking of the International Youth Day in Serbia is a testament to the energy and dedication of young people in our country. Through the Peer Mentoring Program, we are fostering a culture of empowerment, equality, and participation among the youth. Together, we continue to create opportunities for their voices to be heard and for supporting their actions towards sustainable development."- stated Ms. Francoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia.

“Italy acknowledged the importance of providing opportunities for all young persons to reach their full potential as skilled, creative and resilient people. We recognize the key role of youth in defining the pace and direction of development, reshaping the values and social norms and creating a resilient society for all generations. The “Peer mentoring Program for promotion of human rights, gender equality and increased youth participation in Serbia” contributes to promote a cohesive society in which young people have the opportunities to express their views and shape societal development.”- stated Mr. Luca Gori, Ambassador of Italy to Serbia. 

 In Kragujevac today, Local Youth Office and City of Kragujevac are organizing a dialogue for young people with the Assistant of the Mayor for Youth and Cooperation with the University of Kragujevac. Tomorrow, through a public art event in Sremski Karlovci young people will present their artistic work related to the most pressing challenges to achieve gender equality, such as: the gender pay gap, uneven distribution of the household labor and gender-based violence.  In Sombor, there will be a panel entitled “A Day for Us” where we will hear successful and inspiring stories of some youth activists followed by a couple of gigs of local youth bands.  In Novi Pazar, the Local Youth Office will be informing local media about their youth initiatives. 

In the past three months, members of the UN Youth Advisory Group have been supporting their peers in Kragujevac, Sremski Karlovci, Sombor, Novi Pazar, Knjazevac and Bajina Basta to create and implement initiatives to increase youth participation, promote human rights, and create space for social engagement of youth at the local level. Some of the local public actions are taking place on the occasion of the International Youth Day. 

This project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic and implemented jointly by UNFPA and UN Women in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Youth of the Republic of Serbia.

According to the latest Census data published this year there are 1,047,543 young people in Serbia (15–29 years old) and they make up 15.8% of the population in Serbia.     

About the International Youth Day

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers of Youth that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. Over the last two decades of International Youth Day celebrations, several innovative and timely themes have been explored, including mental health, intergenerational solidarity, safe spaces for youth and civic engagement. Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).