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Celebrating International Youth Day 2022

10 August 2022
ITC News

ITC and WIPO host activities around intergenerational solidarity

The International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) are celebrating International Youth Day on 12 August 2022 by hosting a series of activities around this year’s theme of Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a world for all ages

Empowering youth to enterprise is key to addressing youth unemployment and reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, worldwide, youth face several challenges unique to their demographic. Support from other generations through mentorship, guidance, coaching, and networking can empower young innovators to make the leap into setting up a business or inventing the next groundbreaking innovation.

Youth are industrious, innovative, and ambitious, but without the right support, many youth innovations fail to take flight. The power of intergenerational solidarity cannot be underestimated.

This is where ITC and WIPO play a critical role. Both organizations build the skills of young people, thus opening doors, and providing access to networks, resources, and financing that can support youth-led companies and innovations to take flight. 

In jointly celebrating International Youth Day, ITC and WIPO highlight intrepid young innovators, entrepreneurs, activists, and creatives the world over.

  1. On 12 August 2022, ITC and WIPO will host a virtual panel that highlights youth from around the globe in a discussion on: Must we all be creators now? Towards creative, social, and economic inclusion for all ages.
    Register here to attend: https://wipo-int.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5Akd-2trjkvG9Ph0wDHfGgZjIGsKDFfJr1r  

  2. On 20 September 2022, ITC and WIPO will host a film screening showcasing young filmmakers.
    Register here to attend this hybrid event: https://intracen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yBfNqt8iRXCfhsNWfad_-w  
  3. On 4 October 2022, ITC and WIPO will host an in-person Art and Innovation Fair, highlighting the innovation journey, exhibiting youth-led innovations, discussing institutional support for youth, and featuring innovation workshops.

About International Youth Day 2022

To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world needs to leverage the full potential of all generations. Solidarity across generations is key for sustainable development.

However, Ageism continues to present a significant – yet, not sufficiently discussed – challenge to fostering collaboration and solidarity across age groups. The World Health Organization defines ageism as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) directed towards others or oneself, based on age”.

Fostering intergenerational solidarity between generations is more than ever necessary for inclusive and sustainable recovery. As we navigate the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important to recognize and address these age-related barriers to “build back better” in a manner that leverages all generations’ strengths and knowledge. 

This year’s International Youth Day theme, Intergenerational solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages, amplifies the message that action is needed across all generations to achieve the SDGs and leave no one behind.

The 2022 International Youth Day will also raise awareness on certain barriers to intergenerational solidarity, notably ageism, which impacts young and old persons, while having detrimental effects on society.  

This information was originally published by UN DESA on the official International Youth Day page.