Test
Intellectual property rights are not distant, lofty ideals, but tangible tools in the hands of the world’s most vulnerable economies striving for development and progress.
In a global economy increasingly driven by innovation and knowledge, intellectual property (IP) can propel sustainable development and economic transformation in the world’s 45 least developed countries (LDCs) of which 14 of Commonwealth members.
IP rights, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, protect the myriad creations of the mind – from inventions and designs to literary and artistic works.
A new report by the Commonwealth and the UN's Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) sheds light on a range of tools and options to help LDCs create an enabling environment for IP rights and use them strategically to unlock innovation, boost trade, attract investment and promote technological upgrading.
1.5 What are the implications for the Year of Youth and beyond?
During this Commonwealth Year of Youth, the Secretariat has been supporting member countries and other stakeholders to engage with all our multilateral and regional partners to:
- energise stakeholders to recommit to the inclusive participation of young people
- empower young people to co-lead and co-create solutions to the challenges of development, democracy, diversity and peace
- envision a renewed Commonwealth agenda for youth development
- engage partners to increase investment in creating an enabling environment for youth empowerment.
The findings of this report call for a recommitment to youth development through these four objectives, given that progress remains slow. The results also call for the building of legacy initiatives that will revitalise the CYP, youth-led networks and initiatives, as vehicles to support member countries to reap improved scores in the weakest and waning domains of the index, including on Political and Civic Participation and on Peace and Security.
