International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads Report is Available Now

On the occasion of International Youth Day, 12 August 2018, UNESCO is focusing on the theme “Safe Spaces for Youth” to ensure safe spaces for youth where they can engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests, participate in decision-making processes and freely express themselves.

Empowering young women and men to participate fully in the development of their societies is a part of UNESCO’s work with and for youth. UNESCO has always been playing a crucial role in enabling youth to work together to drive social innovation and change, eradicate poverty and inequality, and foster a culture of peace. 

In fact, youth are not just beneficiaries, but truly essential actors in finding solutions to the issues faced by the world today. Their energy and leadership have been demonstrated across the world at different geographical levels. As Ms Jayathma Wickramanayake, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth (UN Youth Envoy) pointed out during her visit to China in July 2018, “there are really good contributions to SDGs that come out from the young people of China”. 

Similarly, in the first and second International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads (IYF) (first one held in 2017, and second one in 2018), youth representatives collectively developed a Declaration and Recommendations, committing to engage in advancing creativity and protecting heritage, effectively contributing to inclusive and sustainable development. Following IYF2, our partners from Changsha Media Arts Center launched and hosted an Achievement Exhibition of the Experience Changsha Media Arts Program, where youth representatives showcased their aspirations in enhancing mutual understanding and advancing cross-cultural exchange along the Silk Roads through different media arts projects they have developed.

See the IYF2 full report here, and learn more about youth commitments, aspirations and accomplishments: