GLOBAL: CONTINUING COVERAGE ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY AND BEGINNING OF INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR

IPS reported on 17 August that even as the U.N. launched the International Year of Youth, a joint statement was issued on the occasion by the heads of U.N. agencies reaffirming their commitment to work together within the U.N. system to more effectively "tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities facing young people." The statement's 27 signatories include UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Sha Zukang. Read: IPS

COSTA RICA: El Imparcial reported on 18 August on an event marking International Youth Day, the beginning of International Youth Year and Costa Rican Youth Day with numerous cultural activities including Giro 180, an activity sponsored by UNFPA and other development partners to promote youth engagement.  El Imparcial

EL SALVADOR: La Prensa Grafica (El Salvador) published an op-ed on 20 August by UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid  marking International Youth Day and the beginning of International Youth Year. Read in Spanish: La Prensa Grafica

NICARAGUA: La Prensa reported on 18 August that the Adolescents and Youth Municipalities Houses organized more than 150 boys and girls from 43 municipalities in the country to participate in the first National Festival called “Voz Joven 2010” (Young Voices) with the support of UNFPA. Read in Spanish: La Prensa

YEMEN: 26 September reported on 22 August that the Youth Empowerment Project at Save the Children, in partnership with Blind-Eye Association and Students Union at Faculty of Commerce, Ibb University, organized a cultural evening dialogue on the occasion of World Youth Day 2010. The evening’s activities included a cultural competition, youth dialogues, and a play titled “With Dialogue and Understanding We Shared.” The evening was carried out as part of the UNFPA Youth Day commemoration. Read in Arabic: 26 September