Working with young people as equal partners
What unites the world’s young people is greater than what divides them.
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What unites the world’s young people is greater than what divides them.
On International Youth Day, we celebrate the creativity, dynamism and leadership of young people everywhere.
This year’s theme — “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations” — reflects a simple truth: that despite their many differences, young people across the globe share similar hopes for dignity, participation and opportunity.
It also acknowledges that the toughest challenges younger generations face — most notably economic uncertainty, digital inclusion and climate change — transcend national borders and demand a coordinated response.
Young people are already leading the way as organizers and innovators. But to go further, they need access to the skills that will shape the future — from critical thinking and problem-solving to digital literacy.
By working with young people as equal partners, we can unlock the demographic dividend, accelerate sustainable development, and bring their energy and expertise to bear on some of the defining crises of our time. They must also be granted a greater role in decision-making processes at the local, national, and international levels.
What unites the world’s young people is greater than what divides them. The United Nations stands with youth everywhere in their call for investment and inclusion. Together, let us build a present and future where every generation can thrive.
Indigenous Peoples account for over 6 percent of the world’s population. They are guardians of cultural heritage, stewards of vital ecosystems, and crucial contributors to our shared future.
Yet across the globe, their rights and well-being face disproportionate threats. Some of the starkest relate to maternal and infant health, with complications and deaths far more prevalent than among the wider population.
That is why, on this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we celebrate Indigenous midwives. Evidence shows that they improve outcomes for mothers and babies, strengthen trust in health systems, and ensure continuity of care. As knowledge holders and leaders, they also help preserve the languages, values, and practices that sustain Indigenous cultures across generations.
The United Nations is working with Member States and Indigenous Peoples to advance rights-based approaches to health. Governments must gather the missing data that so often leaves Indigenous patients invisible in healthcare systems, and they must invest more in training for midwives and natal care. It is also vital that we uphold the rights of Indigenous women to make informed decisions about their own bodies and care.
Traditional wisdom can protect new life. Together, let us ensure that Indigenous midwives, and the communities they serve, have everything they need to thrive.
(Excerpts of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Youth Day on 12 August 2026, and message on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August 2026, in New York.)
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