International Youth Year

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International Youth Year (IYY) was held in 1985, to focus attention on issues of concern to and relating to youth. The proclamation was signed on January 1, 1985 by United Nations Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.

Throughout the year, activities took place all over the world. These activities were coordinated by the Youth Secretariat within the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, at the time based at the UN offices in Vienna, Austria. The Secretariat's director, Mohammad Sharif, was also the Executive Secretary for IYY. The President of IYY was Nicu Ceauşescu , son of the former dictator of Romania Nicolae Ceauşescu

While not organising any specific events itself, under the year's slogan of "Participation, Development, Peace", the IYY Secretariat helped facilitate numerous events helping to make IYY a success.

The main UN event for IYY was the World Congress on Youth (in Spanish: Congresso Mundial Sobre La Juventud) organised by UNESCO and held in Barcelona, Spain July 8-15, 1985. It issued the "Barcelona Declaration" on youth.

Other international events mentioned in the Secretary General's report (October 11, 1985 A/40/701):

International Youth Conference and World Youth Festival (Kingston, Jamaica, April 6-10, 1985). Issued the "Kingston Declaration" on youth.
Friendly Gathering of Youth, (Beijing, China, May 10-24, 1985)
12th World Festival of Youth and Students, (Moscow, USSR, July 27-August 3, 1985)
International Youth Year Conference on Law (Montreal, August 5-9, 1985)