Due to the dazzling success of all its editions, World Youth Forum (WYF) has become a global platform for youth from across the world to share their ideas, visions, and concerns as well. Creating a link between the young people and decision makers, the forum has organised several diverse sessions and events that garnered worldwide admiration. The Egyptian Mail shows certain highlights that made the fourth edition of the forum so special.
Model United Nations Human Rights Council (MUNHRC)
The human rights file was one of the key topics discussed in the forum. A simulation of the Model of the United Nations Human Rights Council (MUNHRC) was organised as part of the forum’s events. The MUNHRC was held in a session entitled “The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Realisation of the Right to Health”.
The session was attended by President Abdel Fatah El Sisi and Chairperson of the National Council for Human Rights Moshira Khattab. During this important session, Egypt presented its vision on human rights. President Sisi reiterated that education, healthcare, and employment are human rights.
Melaku Hailu, a youth delegate from Ethiopia, who participated in the MUNHRC, told the Egyptian Mail that MUNHRC was a great and unique platform, especially in light of repercussions of covid-19 that have impacted human rights.
“This MUNHRC was a very unique not like other simulations. It was very interesting and gave us energy and unique ideas. Personally, I learned a lot,” he said.
Hailu went on to say that covid-19 and its subsequent precautionary measures have had a negative impact on people’s rights. For instance, they cannot move from a country to another, he added.
“The MUNHRC also discussed critical topics that need regional, international and continental partnership. For instance, the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is not equitable. So, we addressed other members of the council to ensure fair distribution of vaccines,” he clarified.
The Ethiopian delegate also noted that he learned a lot from meeting people from different cultures.” At the end of the MUNHRC, we issued a resolution. As the young people are the future leaders, the model helped them share their experience on behalf of their countries. It was very important to interact with each other. I cannot clap with one hand,” he said.
INSPIRE.D
The WYF also includeed an amazing event called “INSPIRE.D”. It highlighted success stories of influential youth leaders, in the belief that such stories can inspire an idea or initiate a change.
Many promising young people shared their inspirational stories on the Inspire.d stage and their life changing moments like Karate Champion Giana Farouk and Egyptian engineer, Mahmoud el-Komy, the winner of the Geneva Invention Prize 2021.
Svetlana Shcherbinina, a Russian participant, said she was very impressed with the success stories of young people who managed to turn their disappointments into dazzling achievements. “The forum enriched my knowledge and experience. We, as youth, shared same challenges and concerns. So, it was very important to listen to each other. We are on the same journey,” she added.
It is worth noting that Egypt’s First Lady Intissar El Sisi attended some of the INSPIRE.D sessions, and praised their ideas and dreams,
The fourth edition of the WYF came out with unique initiatives by young people like the Egyptian version of the UN global initiative “Generation Unlimited”. The Egyptian version is called “Shabab Balad” (Country’s Youth).
The newly-launched international initiative is the world’s first partnership between the government sector, the private sector and young people.
The initiative seeks to provide skills’ training and connect all the world’s 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10-24 years with employment, entrepreneurship, and positive social impact opportunities.
The WYF also witnessed the active participation of African young people. Speaking to the Egyptian Mail, Mohammed Abdulkadir from Ethiopia, said when he came to the forum, he found it beyond his expectations.
“Honestly, it was an amazing forum. The Ethiopian young people participated in several simulation exercises during the forum and I believe that we all benefited from it and take a great input a therefrom,” Abdulkadir, who works in a telecom company, said.
The Ethiopian engineer said he was very happy that the forum allowed them to interact with different ethnic backgrounds and share ideas together. “When I return back home, there are lots of things I will share with my community about the forum,” he noted.
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