Each Year on 12 August, the United Nations celebrates the International Youth Day to engage people from all walks of life – the United Nations, governments, civil society organizations and private sector partners – and advance youth participation and development. This year's theme is“Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth”.

Leading up to 12 August, the UN is holding a series of six Google+ Hangouts on 8, 9 and 10^th August on specific themes that will shape the UN’s work with youth over the next five years, namely: Employment; Entrepreneurship; Education, including on sexual and reproductive health; Political Inclusion; Citizenship; and Protection of human rights. Check this space for more information on the Google + Hangouts: http://social.un.org/index/Youth/InternationalYouthDay/IYD2012.aspx

At UN Women, we believe that youth are critical agents of change and can make gender equality a lived reality. Gender inequality and violence against women and girls are obstacles in the path towards ending poverty, achieving political and economic empowerment for youth, and realizing their human rights. Check out this flyer with resources!

Join @SayNO_UNiTE and Facebook                

Monday 6 August and Tuesday 7 August

Does Gender Equality and Ending Violence against Women & Girls Matter for Youth Employment, Political inclusion, Education & Realizing Human Rights?

Join the conversation with @SayNO_UNiTE and ww.facebook.com/SayNO.UNiTE  on Monday, August 6 and Tuesday August 7, and tell us what you think.

• Does gender equality and violence against girls and women matter to youth development?

• How does ending violence against girls and women link with economic empowerment, political participation, education and realization of human rights of youth?

Tweet your thoughts to @SayNO_UNiTE, comment on our http://www.facebook.com/SayNO.UNiTE, and share your stories!

Spread the word using the hashtag #IYD2012 and these sample messages:

Twitter

• Is ending #VAW important for youth development? Tell the #UN what you think http://ow.ly/cIFmy #IYD2012
• For #InternationalYouthDay chat with @SayNO_UNiTE on how #genderequality & ending #VAW &girls matter to #youth http://ow.ly/cIFmy #IYD2012
• Does ending #VAW &girls & #genderequality matter to #youthemployment political inclusion #humanrights http://ow.ly/cIG0H #IYD2012
• Does ending #VAW &girls & #genderequality matter to #youthemployment politicalinclusion #humanrights Tweet to http://ow.ly/cIGky #IYD2012
• #UN is having @Google + Hangouts with #youth on Aug8-Aug10. Tell us if ending #VAW & #genderequality matters! http://ow.ly/cIGG1 #IYD2012

Facebook

• For the International Youth Day, August 12, the UN is listening to youth about youth employment, political inclusion, education and realization of human rights in a series of Google+ Hangouts. Join Say NO - UNiTE on Monday August 6 and Tuesday August 7 to talk about how gender equality and ending violence against girls and women are linked with youth development and empowerment. http://ow.ly/cIFmy Tweet your thoughts to https://twitter.com/sayno_unite and post your comments here.
• August 12 is International Youth Day! Join us for a conversation with youth about how gender equality and ending violence against women and girls link with economic empowerment, political inclusion, education and realizing human rights of young people everywhere! Tweet your thoughts to https://twitter.com/sayno_unite and post your comments here. Check http://ow.ly/cIFmy for more information