August 12th -Celebrated as the International Youth Day, is a day that is devoted to the strong and vibrant youth who make up 25% of the world's population.

Since 2000, August 12th is marked as the International Youth Day by the United Nations which focuses to draw attention to various youth related issues. Every year, a theme is followed for the day and 2013, is themed as "Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward."

The International Youth Day, 2013 sheds light on the awareness of the opportunities and the risks associated with the youth migration, knowledge sharing and information stemming from recent research and analysis on this topic and engage the youth in discussion on their migration issues.

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the UNFPA has said to commemorate this day: "In order to achieve their full potential and contribute to social and economic development, young migrants need access to education, decent work, and health services, including reproductive health services. UNFPA works with its partners to ensure that young people have the highest possible level of health by enabling them to exercise their right to make free and responsible choices on matters related to their sexual and reproductive health. This includes ensuring their access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, including family planning and age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, so that they can make informed choices and exercise their reproductive rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence"

Youth and youth empowerment is one of the key areas, focused by the UNFPA Sub Regional office for the GCC countries. With the help from the Youth Peer Education network, Y-PEER, various youth focused programs are practiced to build capacities and harness creativity through fun and interactive activities.

Mr. Asr Toson, Representative, UNFPA Sub Regional Office for the GCC countries commented; "The International Youth Day is one of the most important international days the UN celebrates and we take it as a vital opportunity to reach out to the youth of GCC and engage with them and build awareness about opportunities and challenges they face and their roles as individuals in the society. This year, which is themed as the Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward, the UNFPA Sub Regional office, for the GCC countries has to join hands with one of the leading volunteering groups in Oman YPEER (Youth Peer Education Network) to increase awareness about the topic."

For more information about the International Youth Day 2013, in Oman, follow UNFPA GCC office on twitter : @UNFPAGCC and Y-PEER at @YpeerOman