February 2 is Azerbaijan Youth Day.

This significant historical day is associated with the name of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, who always treated the youth with great care, paid attention to solving all the pressing problems of youth, and attached particular importance to the policy pursued in this direction, as one of the most important factors in the activity of the independent Azerbaijani state.

According to the Decree signed by the national leader on February 2, 1997, this day was declared the Day of Azerbaijani Youth. Since then, this day has been solemnly celebrated in Azerbaijan, and for the first time in the countries of the CIS and Eastern Europe. So, long after the establishment of Youth Day in Azerbaijan, on the basis of the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers for Youth Affairs, held in Lisbon on August 8-12, 1998, by the resolution of the UN General Assembly No. 54/120 of December 17, 1999, August 12 was declared International Youth Day.

Back in 1995, the national leader Heydar Aliyev put forward the idea of holding the Azerbaijan Youth Forum. It became necessary to increase the role of Azerbaijani youth in the development of society, in solving their own problems, to increase their participation in the future development of the country, to exchange ideas of young people living in the capital and in the regions, to promote open communication with youth and government officials. These forums were held in subsequent years - I Forum in 1996, February 2; Forum II - March 4, 1999; Forum III - October 13, 2003; Forum IV - October 14, 2005; Forum V - October 3, 2008; Forum VI - October 25, 2011; Forum VII - 25 October 2011 2-3 June 2014, VIII Forum 16 November 2018, IX Forum 25 December 2020.

National leader Heydar Aliyev ensured the formation of the necessary legislative framework for the successful implementation of state policy in the field of youth. Decrees and orders were issued, social and economic state programs were approved, aimed at solving the problems of youth.

The political course, determined by the national leader Heydar Aliyev, is successfully continued today by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The state youth policy, carried out under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, stimulated the development of Azerbaijani youth and played an important role in its self-affirmation in society. As a result of this policy, our youth has been formed as a state, intellectual and noble force.

On August 30, 2005, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree "On approval of the State Program "Youth of Azerbaijan" (2005-2009)". The work carried out within the framework of the program has led to serious progress towards using the potential of young people for the benefit of the country, providing them with useful employment, and realizing their participation in public administration. The attention of President Ilham Aliyev to this area was also manifested in the announcement of a separate year (2007) as the “Year of Youth”. In 2007, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the "State Program for the Education of Azerbaijani Youth in Foreign Countries for 2007-2015". In addition, on April 6, 2011, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the State Program "Youth of Azerbaijan for 2011-2015". The main goal of the program was the further development of youth policy in our country, the creation of conditions for the active participation of young people in the field of management, the employment of young professionals and the solution of other socio-economic problems.

On December 19, 2011, the head of state issued an order to establish a Youth Fund under the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to stimulate the comprehensive development of young people and their active participation in the life of the country. The purpose of the fund was to finance, in the form of grants, projects and programs of public and social significance, including international ones, aimed at science, education, culture and other social spheres related to youth policy. One of the important and significant decisions taken by President Ilham Aliyev in the direction of supporting youth was the establishment of the “Presidential Prize for Youth” in the country for the first time. In recent times, the rapid development of science and technology, the beginning of the post-oil era have set the need for the Azerbaijani state to pursue a policy in accordance with the requirements of the time in relation to youth. Taking into account this need, on January 26, 2015, the head of state issued the “Azerbaijan Youth Development Strategy for 2015-2025”, in order to ensure the intellectual, physical and spiritual development of young people and their active participation in public, economic, socio-political and cultural life country. President Ilham Aliyev always pays the highest attention and care to the comprehensive development of youth, in this regard, on July 26, 2019, the order of the President of Azerbaijan "On the establishment of the Ascension Competition" was issued. The main goal of this competition is to identify and support promising leaders with a high intellectual level and managerial qualities and to create a talent pool in the country. Noting that the potential, activity and new prospects of our youth are very necessary for society, President Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree on December 30, 2019 declaring 2020 the Year of Volunteers in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On January 2, 2023, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on measures related to the holding of the next Ascension contest. Thus, in order to carry out ongoing work related to the holding of the next Ascension contest in 2023, it was instructed to allocate 1 million manats to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the country from the reserve fund of the President provided for in the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2022.

One of the most decisive tests for the youth of Azerbaijan was the Patriotic War, which began on September 27, 2020 and lasted until November 10.  Our heroic youths, who bravely fought for their Motherland in the ranks of the valiant Azerbaijani Army, have inscribed their names in golden letters in the modern history of our people. Thanks to this glorious Victory, achieved thanks to their courage, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, and our people, after thirty years of occupation, are returning to their historical lands.

Recommended literature:

1. Yolçuyev, Əkbər Mehdi oğlu.  Azərbaycan gənclər hərəkatı : məqalələr toplusu: 2 cilddə / Ə. M. Yolçuyev ; Dünya Gənc Türk Yazarlar Birliyi. I cild / elmi red. R. Sabir ; red. Y. İ. Əliyev. - Bakı : Turan evi, 2010. - 152 s.
2. Dünya Azərbaycanlı Gənclər Birliyinin Təsis Qurultayı : [Bakı, 12 mart 2012-ci il] / Dünya Azərbaycanlı Gənclər Birliyi. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2012. - 212 s.
3. Cəfərov, Həmzə Rza oğlu. Azərbaycanda gənclər hərəkatı yeni inkişaf mərhələsində : 1940-2007-ci illər: monoqrafiya / H. R. Cəfərov ; elmi red., ön sözün müəl. İ. M. Hacıyev, rəy. İ. Ə. Həbibbəyli, O. B. Sultanov. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2007. - 224 s.
4. Hacıyev, Rəhman Balabəy oğlu. Azərbaycan gəncliyinin himayədarı : Heydər Əliyevin gənclər siyasəti: 1993-2003-cü illər: monoqrafiya / R. B. Hacıyev ; elmi red. İ. M. Hacıyev ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı : Aspoliqraf, 2014. - 192 s.