Baku, 14 November 2025 — A series of high-level youth engagements convened under the auspices of the 8th Meeting of the CICA Youth Council concluded in Baku, underscoring the central role of young people as catalysts for peace, cooperation and sustainable development across Asia.
Hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in partnership with the CICA Secretariat, the three-day programme brought together representatives of state youth institutions, youth organizations and volunteer movement leaders from 19 CICA Member States. The events offered a dynamic setting for strengthening dialogue, fostering partnerships and amplifying youth-led solutions to shared regional challenges.
The programme featured three flagship activities — the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders, the “SDGs in Action” side event and the CICA Youth Brainstorming Competition — each contributing distinct perspectives to youth cooperation within the CICA framework.
As a key highlight of the programme, the 2nd Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders brought together participants to explore how volunteerism fosters social cohesion, mutual understanding and confidence building among CICA Member States. Two thematic panels — “The Power of Volunteering: Strengthening Connections” and “From Ideas to Experience: Youth Sharing Change” — provided a platform for exchanging best practices and reflecting on the transformative role of volunteer networks across Asia.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Indira Hajiyeva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlighted the evolution of the volunteer movement in Azerbaijan and emphasized its vital contribution to building a responsible and engaged civil society. She underscored the growing importance of volunteerism as a powerful instrument of social development and acknowledged CICA’s role in creating conducive platforms for experience-sharing among Member States. Praising the initiatives implemented under the CICA umbrella, she noted that such events not only strengthen professional exchange but also deepen regional understanding and trust.
Ambassador Ismat Jahan, CICA Expert in the Human Dimension, reaffirmed CICA’s unwavering commitment to positioning volunteerism as a cornerstone of peacebuilding, trust enhancement and inclusive development across Asia. She noted that volunteer initiatives — when nurtured through cross-border cooperation — strengthen social resilience, broaden civic engagement and contribute to a more interconnected and confident CICA region. Ambassador Jahan also highlighted the added value of compiling a concise e-publication featuring exemplary volunteer practices from CICA Member States and encouraged contributions for its planned presentation at a side event during the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum in New York.
Introducing a results-oriented perspective, the “SDGs in Action” side event gathered young practitioners to showcase impactful initiatives advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across the CICA region. Discussions highlighted practical, community-driven approaches to sustainable economic and social progress, with emphasis on human capital development and people-to-people connectivity.
Adding a creative dimension to the discussions, the CICA Youth Brainstorming Competition engaged participants in developing novel ideas to strengthen cooperation and advance development across the region. Multinational teams presented proposals on regional connectivity, intercultural and historical exchange, youth engagement, social innovation, and sustainable development, demonstrating both strong analytical capacity and a collaborative spirit.
Collectively, the events in Baku reaffirmed the priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship of CICA in empowering young people as essential partners in shaping a peaceful, interconnected and future-oriented Asia. They further underscored the value of youth engagement in advancing CICA’s Human Dimension and strengthening cooperation through innovation dialogue and shared vision.
