Beijing, 29 Oct---The Youth and Innovation Seminar: From a Gender Perspective was convened by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) China and its partner China Media Foundation in Yale Beijing Center among journalists, academia, private sector, civil society and  young people. The Seminar served as a platform for cross-sector dialogue on new thinking in ways that societies invest in young people through gender and innovative approaches. Prominent speakers from academia, civil society, private sector, media and young people gathered at the Seminar to share ideas ad initiatives on youth development through the lens of gender and innovation.

Today’s record 1.8 billion young people present an enormous opportunity to transform the future. Young people are the innovators, creators, builders and leaders of the future. But they can transform the future only if they have skills, health and choices in life. “UNFPA believes that the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be measured by how we are able to collectively build a world in which every young people, boy or girl, is empowered to realize their full potential, “said Mr. Arie Hoekman, UNFPA’s Representative to China. He emphasized that gender sensitive investments are smart choices that will maximize return for the society and encouraged rethinking in the ways societies invest in young people from various sectors. The health and wellbeing of the world’s young and adolescent girls, including their sexual and reproductive health, is one of the key areas that requires further investment that is gender sensitive and innovative.

Dr. Liu Qian, Director of Global Economics Unit from the Economist Intelligence Unit provided an in-depth economic analysis on the importance of gender perspectives in youth development.  She emphasized: “The empowerment of women and girl is not just about themselves. It is about every individual having the same opportunities in political, economic and social development. Measures to promote gender equality, women’s participation in the labor market or entrepreneur initiatives, investment to support women and young people’s education are the important elements to ensure long term social and economic sustainable development.”

Professor Bu Wei from China Academy of Social Sciences shared a comprehensive review of gender mainstreaming in relation to youth development from a social perspective. Supported by her extensive research on gender, she concluded that that gender inequality still prevails in the society and have blocked young people to gain equal opportunities and access to education, health and employment. “These inequalities must be broken, and young people should be involved in breaking the chain of gender inequalities,” Professor Bu Wei emphasized the key role of youth participation among other recommendations. She also called for media to take active actions to challenge gender stereotypes in the public sphere.

At the seminar, a lively panel discussion was held with representatives from the private sector, media, civil society and young people focusing on the opportunities and challenges of youth development and innovation, especially for young girls. Ms. Wenchi Yu, CSR Manager of Asia Pacific Region, Goldman Sachs, shared the innovative endeavors from Goldman Sachs to foster women’s entrepreneurship. She also indicated an upward trend of efforts from the private sector to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Civil society actions have been flourishing in facilitating young people’s own participation and leadership roles in society, as shown by the formation of groups like Lean In Beijing, youth space networks across China following the lead of the 706 Youth Space in Beijing, and the kinds of grassroots level groups like Kido Lab, a group dedicated to support left-behind young people in rural areas and migrant youth in cities.

This Youth and Innovation Seminar also marked the launch of the Seminar Series that UNFPA China and China Media Foundation will jointly organize on priority issues in the field of population and development. The Seminar Series aims to inspire new thinking on critical issues in the areas of population and development in the context of China and the Sustainable Development Goals. With the participation from relevant parties, it will be a platform for the government, civil society, academia, and media to exchange views and encourage new thinking on policies and interventions in population and development in China.