SESRIC participated in the Shusha OIC Youth Capital Opening Ceremony, held in Shusha on 4-5 June 2024. The event was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF).

The opening ceremony was addressed by H.E. Farid GAYIBOV, Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan; Mr. Hamid NASIBOV, Head of Division of Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan; H.E. Taha AYHAN, President of ICYF; and Mr. Boubakari MAIGA, Head of the Youth and Sports Department at the OIC General Secretariat, and Dr. Atilla KARAMAN, Chief of Cabinet of SESRIC.

In the opening speech, SESRIC underscored the vital role of youth in driving innovation, productivity, and sustained growth. The speech highlighted the significant demographic potential of the OIC's youth population, which accounts for nearly 30% of the world's youth as of 2023. The youth make up as high as 18% of the total population in member countries, which is larger than the world average of around 16%. The speech also reaffirmed SESRIC’s commitment to supporting youth advancement through various initiatives.

Furthermore, SESRIC led the preparation of the “OIC Youth Strategy”, adopted by the 4th Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYSM), held in Baku in 2018. SESRIC also prepares the “State of Youth in OIC Member States” report and submits it to ICYSM as its main technical background document.

Through its initiatives, SESRIC has significantly contributed to the development and advancement of the younger generation. The OICStat Database hosted and maintained by SESIC features around 50 indicators on youth, offering policymakers, researchers, and practitioners valuable data for evidence-based decision-making.

Furthermore, SESRIC implements various capacity-building activities on a broad range of socio-economic issues relevant to OIC countries, aiming to enhance their human resources. The Emerging Talents Capacity Building Programme (SET-CAB), launched in 2023, provides young individuals with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in an international setting at SESRIC.

The event in Shusha also included the “NexGen: Social Innovation Forum”, “International Leadership and Diplomacy Conference”, and “Islamic Youth Talks for Peace and Harmony” focusing on youth leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and diplomacy.

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