Soft power plays important role in difficult periods: Culture Min. at WYF

CAIRO – 4 November 2018: Egypt's soft power has helped the country through critical times along its history; the creative war is a tool of intellectual revolution, Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem said on Nov. 4.

This came during the 2018 World Youth Forum’s session “The Role of Soft Power in Countering Ideological Extremism and Terrorism.”

Abdel Dayem added that culture and arts are essential tools of the soft power, and that the Ministry of Culture is preparing youth to revolt intellectually to create different activities and to actively participate in international events.

The minister stressed that culture and arts are the most effective tools of communication with any society.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Youth Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al-Mazrui said during the session that youth are the main investors in the soft power, stressing that Sheikh Zayed bin Al-Nahyan paid special attention to women and youth rights, as they are the state's hope for a better future.
She added that the ministry listens to youth and deals with their ideas and the challenges they face.

Furthermore, Khaled Okasha, a member of the National Counter-Terrorism Council, extended his condolences to the families of the Minya attack’s victims, pointing out that Egypt has made great strides in combating terrorism.

He explained that many sources fully fund these terrorist organizations to undermine the state’s will and infrastructure.

He pointed out that a state should be fortified with modern weapons and a strong security body to face these schemes and should have strong institutions to pave the way for the soft power.

Okasha warned that many countries seek to achieve soft power and neglect forming a strong armed forces and intelligence body to protect its borders, remarking that achieving justice, improving education and health conditions and combating poverty are all essential for attaining soft power.

Writer Tarek Osman pointed out that soft power creates geostrategic power particularly that the soft power is less expensive and more effective in achieving the needed goals.

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.

The WYF 2018 agenda

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.