Third Arab Youth Forum Comes to a Close
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Alexandria—
The Third Arab Youth Forum “Youth and the Role of Media in Establishing Culture of Peace, Security and Development” (28 February-1 March 2008) winded up its proceedings on Saturday, 1 March 2008 at the BA, with participants from 17 countries. In the closing session, Arab youth sent a message of solidarity to the people in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, and stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Palestinian martyrs in Gaza.
In his speech, Dr. Ali El Din Helal called on youths not to carry burdens that outweigh their capacity, and not to get involved in trying to solve complex problems, such as unemployment and other problems that governments, organizations, people of power and businessmen failed to resolve.
Session rapporteurs then presented reports and recommendations for each session. The recommendations related to the role of the media in achieving self assessment and acceptance of the other emphasized a sense of belonging to the Arab identity, defining the concept of the other, narrowing the cultural gap, strengthening youth media initiatives and expanding areas of expression through audio, visual and written media.
One of the most important recommendations was launching a website for communication between Arab youths participating in the Forum, that brings together more than 20 Arab countries covering all youth forums held throughout the Arab World.
Dr. Mohsen Youssef, Director of the Arab Reform Forum, stated that the BA will work on designing a website for the Arab Youth Forum on the Internet to form, together with the development gateway and Arab Info Mall, an Arab electronic trio.
The recommendations also included organizing a Youth National Committee to unify the goal of media, and train youths on technical initiatives supporting youth issues, and to promote youth exchange programs among Arab countries, in addition to organizing advocacy programs for families, establishing cultural centers to promote the Arab culture in the world. The recommendation also showed the need to establish an Arab Youth Parliament to bring together different views.
Participants also recommended encouraging school and university media, the establishment of an Arab youth press to discuss their issues and to accommodate their essays and opinions, and the preparation of youth weekly radio to discuss youth issues. The theme related to the role of the media in achieving human security, was the most important recommendation that resulted in the transfer of skills of young people in various areas through audio-visual and printed media.
The recommendations of the last theme was a completion of the media role in establishing citizenship and social peace. They focused on creating a climate of political and economic culture that allows the promotion of the culture of citizenship, and preparing the package of programs to raise awareness among citizens about their rights.
In conclusion, Dr. Safi el-Din Kharboush, Head of National Council for Youth commended on the Arab participation in the Forum, pointing out that it may not satisfy the ambition of everyone, but we are moving in the right direction. He also stressed that this year’s Arab Youth Festival in Cairo will be attended by 1000 youths from Arab countries. In addition to the International Youth Hostels Federation Conference, and the Arab Youth Festival of Development which will be held next May.
He added that Egypt is currently witnessing the Arab-Saudi Meeting Week, which includes a large number of Egyptian and Saudi youths. Dr. Safi proposed to include in the agenda of the National Council of Youth the organization of an Arab summit for youth, and that a festival is scheduled is to be held in Uganda entitled "Arab-African Youth Festival".