In 1965 the UN General Assembly first considered the idea of youth empowerment.

[{"selector":"#anim-d69f5694-ed20-49d6-9179-d400d61bd325 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] On 17 December 1999 the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth.

On 12 August 2000, the first ever youth day was celebrated to mark a new era in the empowerment of the youth.

[{"selector":"#anim-c8c6dc50-1c27-46ab-8f3c-8b2d41431389","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af857496-be01-4a06-8259-3c817d72b2fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The theme this year is 'Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World', to encourage the youth to strive for a sustainable world.

Through these events the UN aims to empower the youth to be able to create a sustainable ‘green world’.