B. Proclamation & 27 UN Entities Joint Statement on International Year of Youth (IYY): 

 B.1  Excerpt from UN General Assembly A/RES/64/134,

Proclamation of the  International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding (August 2010 - August 2011)

The General Assembly,

"Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations and the principles contained therein,

"Considering that it is necessary to disseminate among young people the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, solidarity and dedication to the objectives of progress and development,...

"Bearing in mind that the ways in which the challenges and potential of young people are addressed will influence current social and economic conditions and the well-being and livelihood of future generations,...

"Convinced that young people should be encouraged to devote their energy, enthusiasm and creativity to economic, social and cultural development and the promotion of mutual understanding,

"1. Decides to proclaim the year commencing on 12 August 2010 the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding;

"2. Invites all Member States, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and youth organizations to take advantage of the Year to build on the synergies among the activities to be carried out at the national, regional and international levels during the Year and to promote actions at all levels aimed at disseminating among young people...

"the ideals of peace, freedom, progress, solidarity and dedication to the objectives and goals of progress and development, including the Millennium Development Goals;

"4. Requests ...all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to support all activities related to the Year...;

Excerpt from: 1 February 2010, Sixty-fourth session Agenda item 61, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/64/432)]

End Note: The UN GA resolution on IYY specifically mentioned "...the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010, the aim of which is to inspire young people around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect,.."

See also http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/singapore/news/2011/06-jan-2011 for a report of international and local World Harmony runners visit with the Harmony torch on 06 Jan 2011 to the site of the Olympic Youth Games.

B.2  Excerpt from: Joint Statement by Heads of UN Entities for the Launch of the International Year of Youth:

"...Twenty-five years ago, in 1985, we celebrated the first International Youth Year. The challenges for youth development that were identified during that year laid the foundation for the World Programme of Action for Youth, and its 15 priority areas still provide us with a useful guide to enhance the wellbeing of young women and men. While progress has been achieved in some of these areas, much remains to be done to ensure that all our youth become skilled, healthy and productive members of society.

...It is important to recognize that leisure-time activities, sport, tourism and volunteerism can contribute to the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, psychological, ethical and cultural development of young people. In particular, sport gives youth a healthy start and teaches important values such as discipline, cooperation and commitment. Sport brings people together on an equal playing field that transcends social, ethnic and cultural divides, and a greater focus on sport can promote the development of important skills and attitudes that are key to the future of our youth. Like physical recreation, tourism is an important means of individual and collective fulfilment for youth and an irreplaceable factor of self-education, mutual tolerance and learning about the legitimate differences between peoples and cultures. Moving to volunteerism, many youth around the world volunteer in their communities, thereby making tangible contributions to peace and development. Civic engagement is central to building cohesive communities and to promoting young people’s integration into society. Greater efforts should thus be made to guarantee that young women and men have the opportunity to participate in these types of activities. 

 (more)

"...We hope that in twenty-five years from now, the young people of today will look back at this International Year of Youth and recognize that it has laid the foundations for making the world a better place for themselves and for succeeding generations of young women and men in every region, country and community around the world.

The undersigned,
Helen CLARK, Administrator, UNDP
Irina BOKOVA, Director-General, UNESCO
Margaret CHAN, Director-General, WHO
Radhika COOMARASWAMY, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, OSRSG-CAAC
Cheick Sidi DIARRA, Special Adviser on Africa, OSAA
Jacques DIOUF, Director-General, FAO
Mr. Antonio GUTERRES, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR
Anthony LAKE, Executive Director, UNICEF
Wilfried LEMKE, Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, UNOSDP
Kanayo F. NWANZE, President, IFAD
Thoraya Ahmed OBAID, Executive Director, UNFPA
Taleb RIFAI, Secretary-General of UNWTO
Jorge SAMPAIO, High Representative for the UNAOC
SHA Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, DESA
Josette SHEERAN, Executive Director, WFP
Michel SIDIBÉ, Executive Director, UNAIDS
Juan SOMAVIA, Director-General, ILO
Achim STEINER, Executive Director, UNEP
Anna Kajumulo TIBAIJUKA, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
Hamadoun TOURÉ, Secretary-General, ITU
Kandeh K. YUMKELLA, Director-General, UNIDO
Ahmed DJOGHLAF, Executive Secretary, CBD
Christiana FIGUERES, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Mr. Luc-Marie Constant GNACADJA Executive, Secretary, UNCCD
Sri Mulyani Indrawati Managing Director, The World Bank Group
Inés ALBERDI, Executive Director, UNIFEM
Flavia PANSIERI, Executive Coordinator, UNV