Sana’a, Yemen, 22-23 June 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 Rabat.
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 Ms. Flavia Pansieri, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative, UNDP Yemen
- Statement by Dr. Azza Karam, Senior Adviser Regional Programme UNDP/RBAS
- Statement by Mr. Joop Theunissen, UN Youth Focal Point UN DESA
- Statement by H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Akwa’a, Minister of Youth and Sports
Agenda item 1: Globalisation and Social Inclusion - Moderator: Dr Ali El Sawi
- Youth and Globalisation in the Arab world - Ms Gihan Abuzeid
- Presentation on Impact of Global Media – Mr Rami Khouri
- Country Presentation: Jordan
- Country Presentation: Iraq
Agenda item 2: Employment and the Labour Market - Moderator: Mr Oleg Serezhin
- Presentation on labour market, prepared by ILO/Beirut - Dr. Simel Esim
- Presentation on the Youth Employment Network – YEN (Mr. Joop Theunissen)
- Country Presentation: Egypt
- Country Presentation: Yemen
- Country Presentation: Palestine
Agenda item 3: Gender and the Family - Moderator: Ms Gehan AbuZeid
- Presentation on Gender and Family in the Arab World - Ms. Suad Nabhan, Unicef, Sana’a
- Young women’s participation in Public Life/Impacting on Family laws - Dr Simel Esim, ILO Regional Office for the Arab States, Beirut
- Early marriage – presentation by Ms Nisha, Oxfam GB, Sana’a
- Country Presentation: Syria
- Country Presentation: Sudan
- Country Presentation: Jordan
Agenda item 4:Governance and Freedoms - Moderator: Dr Azza Karam
- Presentation on Governance and Freedoms - Dr Ali El Sawi
- Presentation by Marcos Andrade, North-South Centre, Council of Europe
- Country Presentations: Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Iraq
Next steps: Conclusions and recommendations - Moderator: Ms Gehan AbuZeid
- Summary of some of the conclusions – Mr Joop Theunissen
- Summary of issues raised at the workshop – Ms Azza Karam