Youth Lens on the Silk Roads – Best photos from the International Silk Roads Photo Contest - 4th Edition

More than two-thirds of the world's population live in the vast regions of Asia, Europe, and Africa, and have been connected for thousands of years by the Silk Roads.
These routes of exchange brought about the widespread transmission of knowledge, ideas, cultures, and beliefs, and shaped history and culture.
Lack of intercultural dialogue has been closely associated with conflicts, as, new data from UNESCO indicates that 89% of conflicts take place in countries where intercultural dialogue is limited. This situation highlights the significance of the legacy of the Silk Roads: a crucial tool for fostering intercultural dialogue, and ultimately, achieving sustainable peace and development.
For the fourth time, to raise awareness of the challenges we face as a global community and the potential of intercultural dialogue, UNESCO presents the winners and the ‘best of’ the ‘Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads’ international photo contest.
This year, the contest asked young people between the  ages of 14 and 25 to showcase their perspectives on faith, spiritualities, and living together, reflecting upon the Silk Roads' remarkable history of encounters and interactions.
Featuring 74 photographs from 40 countries, this collection of images invites young people, educators, and cultural professionals to reflect on the potential of the Silk Roads for extending cultural interactions and encounters in the contemporary world, promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, and peace.