Sisi tackles discrimination, religious freedom in his talk at WYF

CAIRO – 4 November 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi delivered a speech at the end of the first session of the World Youth Forum's second day which came under the title, “The Role of World Leaders in Building and Sustaining Peace.”

Sisi asserted his protection to the freedom of worship, saying that the state is concerned to build a church in each new community, adding that “if there are other religions in Egypt, we will build worship places for them.”

“It’s the right of any citizen to worship God as he pleases, or even worship nothing because the state doesn’t intervene in these issues,” Sisi pointed. “We in Egypt do not differentiate between Muslims and Christians. All citizens are Egyptians.”

Sisi stressed that equality among all social segments is one of the main cornerstones of social peace.

Women do play an important and effective role in society, Sisi stated, revealing real steps taken to activate Women's role in Egyptian society.

Furthermore, Sisi confirmed that the political visions of leaders are key factors in achieving peace inside and between countries.

“The ability of the leaders to read the situation, whether regarding relations with other countries or within the state itself, differs from one leader to another according to the cultural, intellectual and scientific backgrounds as well as many other factors,” he explained.

Sisi underscored that leaderships in various countries should deal with citizens regardless of their gender and religion.

He shed light on the vision of late President Anwar Sadat, who achieved peace that was based on his correct reading of the situation.

Moreover, Sisi addressed illegal immigration and unemployment, asking if those developed countries who suffer from illegal migrants are ready to offer job opportunities to youth in countries with high unemployment rates.

Sisi said that there are around 800,000 or 900,000 young men and women that join the labor market every year.

"Are these advanced nations that have only 3-4-percent unemployment rate ready to help countries like Egypt and other African nations to set up projects that would really lower growing unemployment," he continued.

The first session of the second day of the World Youth Forum (WYF) kicked off Sunday, Nov. 4 at Sharm El-Sheikh under the title, “The Role of World Leaders in Building and Sustaining Peace.”

The second annual edition of the WYF will tackle two main axes: peace and development. The forum will bring together 5,000 youths represented by 60 delegations from across the world to explore key issues facing their generation, and determine their role in implementing the global development goals and in facing terrorism.

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 and counter-terrorism, and the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

The axis of 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 means of shrinking the gender gap in the work force.

On Nov. 1 and 2, the forum witnessed pre-workshops related to the "agenda 2063: The Africa We Want" and "Empowering Persons with Disabilities: Towards a More Integrated World."

The opening of the World Youth Theater took place on Friday, November 2. The actual discussion sessions are planned to start on November 4, where participants will discuss a number of issues, including differences among cultures and civilizations, the role of world leaders in building and sustaining peace, the role of soft power in countering ideological extremism and terrorism, and Day Zero: Water security in the wake of climate change.

On November 5, the sessions will tackle the role of entrepreneurs and start-ups in global economic growth, rebuilding societies and states after conflicts, narrowing the gender gap in the labor market and humanitarian assistance: A global responsibility in the face of challenges.

The forum's closing session and the announcement of the World Youth Forum 2018's recommendations will take place on Nov. 6.