Rabat, Morocco, 6 - 8 July 2005
NEW >> Arab Youth Strategising
for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
This publication is a product of the ensuing dialogue between participants at the three workshops.
(Click here for Arabic version).
Find out more about the other two strategic workshops in Bahrain and Sana'a.
Youth Policies and Strategies in the Context of the MDGs
Young people in the Arab world
are standing at the crossroads of major changes in their countries. The current
generation of young Arab men and women is the most and possibly also the
best-educated ever. Yet, many face enormous challenges in finding decent
employment and in participating in democratic decision-making processes. In a
joint initiative of the Regional Bureau for Arab States of UNDP and the UN
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (of which the UN Programme on Youth
forms part), three workshops were held in the region to address these concerns
in light of the Millennium Development Goals. In a series of three workshops in
Bahrain, Sana’a and Rabat, four main broad themes under the MDG umbrella, that
have particular relevance to young men and women in the Arab world, were
discussed. These four themes were: globalization and inclusion; employment and
the labour market; governance and freedoms; and gender and family.
List of participants
Group photograph
Agenda of the meeting: English | Arabic
Opening session
- Opening statement and welcome by Mr Emmanuel Dierckx de Casterlé, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative, UNDP Morocco
- Statement by Mr. Rachid El Ouali, UNDP Ambassador for MDGs
- Statement by Mr. Driss Guerraoui, Adviser to Prime Minister & National Coordinator, Pan-African Youth Leadership Summit
- Statement by Dr. Azza Karam, Senior Adviser Regional Programme UNDP/RBAS
- Statement by Mr. Joop Theunissen, UN Youth Focal Point UN DESA
Agenda item 1: Globalisation and Social Inclusion - Moderator: Dr Ali El Sawi
- Youth and Globalisation in the Arab world – Presentation 1 | Presentation 2 - Ms Gihan Abuzeid
- Presentation on Impact of Global Media – Mr Rami Khouri
- Country Presentation: Yemen
Agenda item 2: Gender and the Family - Moderator: Ms Gehan AbuZeid
- Women, HIV/AIDS and the MDGs – Dr Khadija Moalla, UNDP
- Youth, Gender and Family in the Arab World – Mr Joop Theunissen
- Country Presentation: Syria
- Country Presentation: Jordan
Agenda item 3:Governance and Freedoms - Moderator: Dr Azza Karam
- Governance and Freedoms –
(see also background paper) - Dr Ali El Sawi
- Youth Participation – A European Perspective, by Ms Asa Bjering, Swedish Council of Youth Organizations (LSU), Stockholm
- Country Presentations: Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Iraq
Agenda item 4: Employment and the Labour Market - Moderator: Mr Oleg Serezhin
- Presentation on labour market in the Arab world prepared by ILO Regional Office for Arab States, Beirut – presented by Mr. Joop Theunissen
- ICT for Development: Mainstreaming Youth, Creating Employment – presented by Ms Najat Rochdi, UNDP ICTDAR, Cairo
- Country Presentation: Morocco
- Country Presentation: Tunisia
Next steps: Conclusions and recommendations - Moderator: Ms Randa Jamal
- Summary of some of the conclusions – Mr Joop Theunissen
- Summary of issues raised at the workshop – Ms Azza Karam