The year 1985 was proclaimed by the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

as the International Youth Year (IYY). It was held 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 The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. The role of the secretary-ge ...

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar Javier Felipe Ricardo Pérez de Cuéllar de la Guerra (; ; 19 January 1920 – 4 March 2020) was a Peruvian diplomat and politician who served as the fifth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1982 to 1991. He later served as Prime Mini ...

Events

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 The Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs (CSDHA) was the division of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), responsible for coordination of all issues related to social policy within the United Nations sys ...

, at the time based at the UN offices in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

. The Secretariat's director, Mohammad Sharif, was also the Executive Secretary for IYY. The President of IYY was

Nicu Ceauşescu A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), also known as an intensive care nursery (ICN), is an intensive care unit (ICU) specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. Neonatal refers to the first 28 days of life. Neonatal care, as k ...

, son of the then dictator of

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

Nicolae Ceauşescu Nicolae may refer to: * Nicolae (name), a Romanian name * ''Nicolae'' (novel), a 1997 novel See also *Nicolai (disambiguation) *Nicolao Nicolao is an Italian given name and a surname. It may refer to the following: Given name *Nicolao Civitali ...

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. On October 11, 1985, the Secretary-General of the UN,

, in his report to the General Assembly, summarised the principal activities for IYY. The main UN event for IYY was the World Congress on Youth (''in Spanish'':

Congreso Mundial Sobre La Juventud () is a musical band from Chile. Founded in 1969 in Quilpué, it is a highly acclaimed band with over 50 years of experience fusioning and developing Latin American music. Began their career in the late 1960s linked to New Chilean Song movemen ...

) organised by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

and held in

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, 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 Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Inter ...

, April 6–10, 1985). Issued the "Kingston Declaration" on youth.Kesler, Charles R
"No fun in the sun"
''

National Review ''National Review'' is an American conservative editorial magazine, focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by the author William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Its editor-in-chief i ...

'', 1985-06-14. Retrieved on 2009-01-01. * Friendly Gathering of Youth, (

Beijing, China } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

, May 10–24, 1985) *

12th World Festival of Youth and Students The 12th World Festival of Youth and Students was held from 27 July to 3 August 1985 in Moscow, capital city of the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The festival was attended by 26,000 people from 157 countries. The slogan of the festival ...

, (

Moscow, USSR Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

, July 27-August 3, 1985) *

International Youth Year Conference on Law International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

, August 5–9, 1985)

Notes and references

External links

Image of a West German post stamp from 1985 featuring the emblem of the International Youth Year.
General Assembly resolution declaring IYYGeneral Assembly resolution to continue work of IYYUN Youth Unit

{{Authority control United Nations observances, Youth Year, International 1985 in the United Nations Youth events