WYF sends message reflecting Egypt's security, stability

CAIRO – 1 November 2018: Head of the National Media Authority (NMA) Hussein Zein asserted that organizing the World Youth Forum (WYF) for the second year in a row conveys a clear message to the whole world that Egypt is a country of security and stability.

“The event reflects the fact that Egypt has restored its leading role in achieving peace, reconstruction and development in various fields,” Zein said.

Zein asserted that the forum, which will be held under the sponsorship of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in Sharm el Sheikh on November 3-6, spotlighting Sisi's belief in the importance of the youth's role in building a bright future for Egypt.

The great attention paid by the president to the forum emanates from his conviction that it will offer the opportunity to listen to the youths' ideas and enhance dialogue in order to bring together points of view among the youths and decision makers across the world, he asserted.

The forum targets also establishing dialogue between the youths and the State to raise awareness about Egypt's achievements in numerous domains, Zein reiterated.

The youth's participation in the event reflects Egypt's civilized image and sheds light on its unique regional and international status, Zein pointed.

The 2018 World Youth Forum (WYF) will convene in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh between Nov. 2-6 with the participation of thousands of youth.

The WYF administration has received more than 35,000 applications from youth coming from 165 countries to participate in the forum so far, since it has opened registration on Aug. 18, the administration announced on Thursday. Some 30 percent of applicants are coming from Africa and Arab countries, while 70 percent of the applying youth are from other different countries, the statement added.

The administration opened a live chat for direct communication with the youth, who are interested in attending the forum, to help solve any technical problems that may face them during registration.

The WYF in its second annual version will tackle two main axes: peace and development.

The first axis will discuss reconstructing post-conflict countries and societies, the role of world leaders in achieving peace, the duty of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance, counter-terrorism issues, and Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

The theme of the development will include topics related to energy and water security, empowerment of people with disabilities, the role of voluntary work in building societies, the agenda of 2063 African Sustainable Development, digital citizenship, the role of art and cinema in shaping communities, ways to build future leaders, and the means of shrinking the gender gap in the work force.

An Arab-African Summit Simulation Model will be held on the sidelines of the Forum, as was recommended during the African Union Simulation Model held in May 2018 as part of the activation of the recommendations of the 2017 World Youth Forum.

The first edition of the World Youth Forum was launched from Nov. 4-10, 2017 in Sharm el-Sheikh. It was attended by 3,200 participants from 113 countries. The forum was a platform for 222 speakers from 64 countries with expertise in various fields, gathered in 46 sessions.

In the 2017 edition, the participating leaders and experts discussed various international and regional issues, including crises of migration and refugees, democracy and human rights, African stability and development, and globalization and cultural identity, as well as the technology and social media and their impact on the population.