On the International Youth Day ICYF-ERC Director General addressed the international seminar on youth engagement.

The Seminar was also addressed by H.E. Mr. Shehryar Khan Afridi, Minister of State of Pakistan for States and Frontier Regions and Narcotics Control, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, Prof. Dr. Tabassum Afzal, Rector of COMSATS University in Islamabad (CUI), Dr. S.M. Junaid Zaidi, Executive Director of COMSATS, Mr. Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala Yousafzai’s Father, Ms. Liu Jian, Co-founder of Ichi Foundation from China, Ms. Isabelle Vladoiu, Founder of US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights and other important international and local dignitaries. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E. Ali Alizada was among the important guests inaugurating the seminar.

In his speech Mr. Elmaddin Mehdiyev emphasized the importance of implementation of sustainable youth policy for better engagement of young people in the OIC Member States to strengthen their intellectual skills and social activeness. Referring to the projects and programmes conducted by ICYF-ERC, Mr. Mehdiyev called for enhanced collaboration and cooperation for the purpose of coping all challenges and hardship that faced by youth.

ICYF-ERC Director General also highlighted the fact of Pakistani youth representation on the international Board of ICYF-ERC by Mr. Fsahat Ul Hassan, CEO of Youth Advocacy Network (YAN) of Pakistan and active participation of youth of brotherly Pakistan in the activities organized by ICYF-ERC.

Underlying the situation of youth affected by military aggressions, occupations and violations of basic principles of International Law, Mr. Mehdiyev mentioned that Azerbaijani youth, including more than half million of those being from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and those living in the frontline areas of Azerbaijan as well as regions bordering with Armenia who are directly affected, experience difficulty because of the military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and continuation of this militaristic and aggression policy which world community witnessed once again just recently, on 12 July 2020 when Armenia attacked the Tovuz region of Azerbaijan causing death of 12 military servicemen of Azerbaijan and one civilian. Taking the opportunity ICYF-ERC Director General thanked Pakistani youth for their principled and just position supporting the youth and people of Azerbaijan against the military attacks and expansionist policy of Armenia.