SDGs in the Spotlight for Global Youth in 2025

The world today marks International Youth Day with a focus on the role of young people in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a priority shared by Cuba.

The official commemoration of the International Year of Youth 2025 will take place this Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with UN-Habitat. The program will feature the release of various knowledge products, including multimedia narratives, infographics, and a set of digital participation tools related to the celebration.

According to the United Nations, this year has been dedicated to Local Youth Action for the SDGs and Beyond, highlighting the critical role of young people in transforming global aspirations into community-driven realities.

The global body is also working to implement the SDGs in specific local contexts, aligning them with community needs while maintaining consistency with national and international commitments, an area in which youth are considered essential actors.

The event will also underscore the important role of local and regional governments in creating inclusive policy environments, allocating resources, and establishing mechanisms for youth participation in local planning and decision-making.

This demographic brings creativity, insight, and deep community ties that help bridge the gap between policy and practice. With more than 65 percent of SDG targets linked to local governance, youth participation is not a luxury but a necessity, the UN emphasized.

Each year on August 12, International Youth Day draws global attention to the challenges and opportunities faced by young people and highlights their contributions to all aspects of global development, the organization noted in a recent statement.

In this context, Cuba is carrying out summer activities with youth participation and recently elevated to the status of law a Code on Childhood, Adolescence, and Youth, which expands the legal framework for the protection, development, and participation of individuals from birth to 35 years of age.