DDCP-YD/AE Forum (2013) 3

Strasbourg, 19 September 2013

4thArabEuropeanYouthForum

Togetherfor HumanRights YouthParticipation,Dialogue

Doha,Qatar,811December2013

Presentationoftheforum Applicationprocedure

incooperationwith EuropeanYouthForum YouthActivitiesDepartment,MinistryofCulture,ArtsandHeritageofQatar

BACKGROUND The Council of Europes youth sector has an outstanding tradition of intercultural dialogue and including the points of view of young people from across the globe in its activities, be them organised at the European youth centres or supported by the European Youth Foundation. Intercultural dialogue provides also the framework for cooperation with neighbouring regions, especially the South Mediterranean, while placing emphasis on the role of intercultural dialogue for managingdiversitywithinourrespectivesocieties. EuroArabyouthcooperationwasinitiatedmorethan10yearsbytheCouncilofEuropewithaseries ofactivitiesofEuroArabDialogue.InApril2009theLeagueofArabStatesandtheCouncilofEurope held their first joint training course for youth leaders on youth participation and intercultural dialogue for EuroArab Youth Cooperation. This was followed by other capacitybuilding activities, includinganongoinglongtermtrainingcoursefortrainersondemocraticyouthparticipation. The League of Arab States Youth Forum (LASYF) has been held annually since 2007, and is attended byanumberofyouthleaders,officialsfromyouthsector,andparliamentariansfromArabcountries. Since the beginning, European youth and the Council of Europe have been involved in the fora, in wayswhichhaveevolvedfromagueststatustocoorganisers. AsacontinuationofthepreviousforaheldinthepastyearsinEgypt,Jordan,MoroccoandItaly,the YouthActivitiesDepartmentoftheMinistryofCulture,ArtsandHeritageofQatarwillbethehostof the forum in Doha. The forum is coorganised with the League of Arab States Youth Sports Department,theYouthDepartmentoftheCouncilofEuropeandtheEuropeanYouthForum. The ArabEuropean Youth Forum should be held every second year, with the venue alternating betweenaEuropeanandanArabcountries. THEARABEUROPEANYOUTHFORUM TheLeagueofArabStatesYouthForumobjectivesareto: - Developtheknowledgeofyouthissuesandyouthwork. - Strengthenexchange,partnershipandnetworkingbetweenyouthleadersandtheir institutionsandorganisations. - Elucidatearegionaljointvisionaboutyouthempowermentandprioritisingyouthissues. - Strengthendialogue,exchange,andnetworkingbetweenyouthleadersinbothArabstates andEurope. ThefirstroundoftheForumwasin2007withthemeofYouthandtheMillenniumDevelopment Goals,the2007roundwasattendedbyabout300youthleadersfromtheArabstates,asignificant numberofHeadsofNationalCouncilsofYouth,Arabparliamentarians,andrepresentativesof regionalandinternationalorganisations.TheForumhastheresultofthecreationofseveralregional youthnetworksinitiativesincludingthosetargetingyouthorganizationsoryouthbloggers. Thesecondroundwason2008withthemeofYouthandInterculturalDialogueanditwastheFirst EuroArabMeeting.The2008roundaimedtoprovideanopportunityfordialoguebetweenthe Arabyouth,Europeanyouth,theEuropeanYouthForum,andwithdecisionmakers,experts, researchersandrepresentativesofrelevantregionalandinternationalorganisations.Theforum, attendedbyabout170ofyouthleadersfromboththeArabandEuropeancountries,adoptedaEuro ArabdeclarationtoactivatetheroleofyouthinInterculturaldialogue,"ForaBetterWorldthrough InterculturalDialogue".Thedeclarationurgedforanunderstandingofchangesaffectingthe conditionsfordialogueandcooperationandstressedthecommonfateandimportanceof
2

cooperationforEuropeanandArabyouthtofacetheproblemsandchallengesaheadofthem. BasedontheseexperiencesandontherecentandcurrentdevelopmentsinArabandEuropean countries,thefourthArabEuropeanYouthForumwillfocusontheissuesofhumanrights, participationanddialoguebetweenculturesinArabandEuropeansocietiesandtheroleofyouth cooperationtherein.Thesethreeissuescongregatethewidescopeofchallengesthatyoungpeople facetodayandalsothechallengesandchancesforinterregionalyouthcooperation,peaceand development. The4thArabEuropeanforumislaunchedasaninitiativeforcooperationanddialogueinthecontext ofthechallengestopeaceandhumanrightsintheMiddleEastregionanditsneighbours,ascene markedbystronganddeepaspirationexpressedtheyouthandpopularawarenessofthesocialand economicrightsbasedontheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights. MAINGOAL TheforumaimsatfosteringmutualcooperationandraisingawarenessamongyoungAraband Europeanleaders,representativesofassociationsanddecisionmakers,totherelatedcasestoyouth issuesinhumanrights,participationandinterculturaldialogue. OBJECTIVESOFTHEFORUM Tocontributetothedevelopmentofsharedknowledgeandtoincreasetheawarenessabout humanrights,participationandinterculturaldialogueinyouthworkandtheirimpacton youthdevelopmentinArabandEuropeancommunities

TodiscussandpresentprojectstoimprovethesituationofyoungpeopleintheEuroArab, dealingwithhumanrightsviolationsatthesocial,economic,political,andhowtoaddress theirnegativeeffects Toexchangeonrealitiesandchallengestoyouthparticipationinthecountriesand organisationsrepresentedandtheroleofyouthpolicytoextendthesphereofyouth participation Todevelopideasandprojectsdealingwiththeconsequencesofprejudice,discrimination andracismandworkingtoensuretheapplicationoftheprinciplesofhumanrightsand providingopportunitiesforastableandsecurelife,freefrompersecutionanddiscrimination foryoungArabsandEuropeans DevelopproposalswhichaimtoinvolveyoungpeopleintheissuesontheArabEuropean dialogueagenda(social,economic,spiritual,cultural,political)basedontheirabilityto changethestereotypicalimages. Toinitiatepartnershipsforsustainabledevelopmentundertheleadershipofyoungmenand women Tosupporttheparticipationofyoungpeopleandactivatetheirrolesandtherolesoftheir organisationsininterculturaldialogue. Topromotedialogueamongcivilizationsandunderstandingamongyoungpeopleand respectfortheculturalparticularitiesanddealwiththeminaspiritofequalityandmutual respect

OUTCOMES Themostvisibleoutcomeoftheforumwillbeanappealforhumanrights,youth participationandinterculturaldialogue.Thisdocument,provisionallynamedtheDohaYouth Declaration,willcontaintheconclusionsissuesbytheworkinggroupsoftheforumand

indicatepathwaysforfutureArabEuropeanyouthcooperationbythecoorganisersand partnersuntilthenexteditionoftheforum. Otheroutcomesinclude:

Directcooperationprojectsbetweentheparticipantsandtheirorganisations AninternetsitedocumentingtheforumanditsfollowupwillbesecuredbytheQatari partners Avideoreportwillalsobeproduced. StrengtheningyouthparticipationsopportunitiesEuroArabcooperationnbetweenthe youthorganisationsrepresented AreinforcementofthecooperationbetweentheLeagueofArabStatesandtheCouncilof Europe,includingtheEuropeanYouthForumandtheYouthActivitiesDepartmentof MinistryofCulture,ArtsandHeritageofQatarinthecontextofEuroArabandEuro Mediterraneanregion AprioritizationoffutureareasofcooperationbetweentheyouthsectorsoftheLeagueof ArabStatesandoftheCouncilofEurope.

PROGRAMMEANDMETHODOLOGY Theprogrammewillbestructuredonthethematicfocusoftheforum:HumanRights,Youth ParticipationandInterculturalDialogue.Eachofthe3dayswillbededicatedtooneofthethemes.A specificattentionwillbedevotedtohatespeechandhumanrightsonlinesoastoconnectwiththe NoHateSpeechMovementyouthcampaign. EachthematicdaywillbeintroducedbyaspeakerforEuropeandanotherfromanArabcountry, followedbyshortstatementsbyparticipants.Inmixedworkinggroupstheparticipantswilldeepen theissuesandclosethedaywithconclusions. Humanrights Universalhumanrightsestablishthegroundforinterculturaldialogue,youthparticipationandyouth work;developingtheyouth'sskillsispursuanttomeettheirrightswhichareassociatedwiththeir humanitythatimposesrespecting,meetingandprotectingtheirrights. Youthparticipation TheyouthprotestandrebellionmovementsthathavecharacterisedthesocalledArabSpringand theoccupymovementsreflectadualstateofdespairandhope;despairingettingtheirvoices heardandtotakepartinimprovingtheircommunities,andatthesametimeastateofhopethat youtharenolongeranabsentparty,onthecontrarythey'reabletoinfluenceandpressure.Youth participationremainsacentralissue,valueandpriorityforyouthpolicyeverywhereandanindicator oftheabilityofasocietytotakeintoaccountthevoicesandaspirationsoftheyounggeneration. Interculturaldialogue Youthworkisnolongerlimitedtocountriesbordersornationalcountries,thetrialsofisolating youthfromtheexchangedculturalinfluenceisclosetoimaginarythanreal.Atthesametime,the worldisingreatneedforadialoguebetweenitsdifferentculturesinawaythatbuildsmutual respectnotstrifeandcompetition.Youthhasafundamentalroleinmotivatingandimprovingsucha dialogueand,especially,toovercomeprevailingprejudiceandethnocentrisminArabEuropean relations. DRAFTDAILYPROGRAMME Sunday,8November
09:30 4 Officialopeningsession;introductionstotheforumsparticipants,programmeandworkingmethods

11:00 Break 11:30 13:00 14:30 HumanRights HumanRightsintheArabandintheEuropeanregionintroductionbytwospeakers Discussionandorganisationoftheworkinggroups Lunch Workinggroups

18:00 Plenarytosharetheconclusionsoftheworkshop 20:00 Dinner 21:00 EveningprogrammeandProjectsfair Monday,9December 09:30: Welcomeandprogrammeoftheday 09:40 Youth participation and the role of youth organisations Myths and facts on participation, youth policyanddemocracy. Workinggroupsonyouthparticipation Lunch Workinggroupscontinued Break Plenary:conclusionsofthegroupsonparticipation SocialandculturaldiscoveryofDohaanditsyouth

11:00 Break 11:30 13:00 14:30 16:00 16:30 17:30 Tuesday,10December 09:30:Welcomeandprogrammeoftheday 09:40 11:30 13:00 14:30 16:00 Introductiontointerculturaldialogue:why,whatandthechallengesofinterculturaldialogue Workinggroupsoninterculturaldialogue Lunch Workinggroupscontinued Break 11:00 Break

17:00 Introductiontotheeveningprogramme

16:30 Plenary:Prioritiesforthefuture 18:00 Closingofthefuturesession Wednesday,11December CulturalandTouristicdiscoveryofQatar(optional) Thursday,12December Departureoftheparticipants 5 IntroductionofthefinaldraftoftheDohaYouthDeclaration Evaluation Closingceremony 19:30 AdoptionoftheDohaYouthDeclaration

OutlineoftheWorkingGroups

HumanRights
Group1:Humanrightsand youngpeopleslife
Humanrightsarethebasewhich wecandependsontoevaluatethe realityoftheyouthslives,as humanrightsaretheminimum thatensuresadecentlifeforevery youngmanandwoman. - Whichchallengesdoyoung peoplefacetoaccesstheir humanrights? - Whichrightsaremost challenged? - Howtosecuretheuniversality andindivisibilityofhuman rights? - Theroleofyouthin implementingtheConvention ontheRightsoftheChild(CRC) - Whatroleshouldhumanrights playinfutureEuroArab cooperation? Group1:Youthparticipationin youthpolicy Youthparticipationshouldbepart ofeveryyouthpolicy.Butthis oftenmeanslittleforthemajority ofyoungandisalsopractisedvery differently. - Whatarethemain achievementsandchallenges aboutyouthparticipationin youthpoliciesinthe participantscountries? - Howisitorganised? - Whatisneededstrengthenreal youthparticipationinyouth policy? - WhatcanEuroArabyouth cooperationdoforyouth participation?

Group2:Humanrightsand youthRights
Therightsofyoungpeopleare protectedboththeCRCandbythe UDHR(andallotherhumanrights instruments).Somearguethatthis isnotenoughtoprotectthe specificrightsofyoungpeoplein transitiontoadulthoodand autonomy. - Doweneedspecific instrumentsforyouthrights? Doyoungpeoplehaverightsof theirown? - Whatisspecifictoyouthrights andhowtopromotethemin ArabandEuropeancountries? - Howshouldyouthpolicy measurestakeintoaccountthe obstaclesfacedbyyoung peopleinaccessingtheir rights? YouthParticipation Group2:Youthparticipationin publicpolicies Theparticipationoftheyouthin generalpolicesintheircountriesis somethingindisputable,in additiontobeingarightforthem, whichenhancestheeffectiveness ofthesepoliciesinresponsetothe expectationsandaspirationsof youngpeople.Youthmattersby definitionshouldbemainstreamed acrossotherareasofgovernance areas. - Howareyoungpeopleinvolved intheimplementationofpublic policiesthatconcernthem(e.g. Education,Health,Justice, Sport)? - Howareyoungpeople organisedforthispurpose? - WhatcanEuroArabyouth cooperationdoforyouth participation?

Group3:Humanrights, educationandyouthwork
Humanrightsbelongtoeveryone andneedtobecaredforby everyone.Knowinghumanrightsis essentialtoclaimthemand campaigningforthem.Suchisthe roleofhumanrightseducation. - Howcanyouthworkinfluence humanrights? - Whatcanthehumanrightscan doforyouthwork? - (How)Arehumanrights presentincitizenshipand humanrightseducationinthe participantscountries? - Whatshouldbetheroleof humanrightseducationin futureEuroArab cooperation? Group3:Politicalparticipationof youngpeople Youngpeopleareoftenlookedat asadvocatesandcatalystsfor socialanddemocraticreforms.But thisofcourseimpliesthe possibility,themotivationandthe meanstoparticipateinpolitical processes. - Howcanyoungpeopletake partinlocal,regionaland nationalpoliticalprocesses? - Whatarethepossibilitiesand thebarriersforpoliticalyouth participation? - Arethererealdifferences betweenArabandEuropean countries? - Canpoliticalyouth participationsupportArab Europeanyouthcooperation?

InterculturalDialogue Group1:Theroleofsocialmedia Group2:Youthmobilityand forinterculturaldialogue exchanges

Communityandsocialmedia formalisethegatewaywhichthe youthcancommunicatewitheach otherthroughitpassingallthe naturalandculturalborders. Therearedoubtsaboutits capacitytolivetotheexpectations placedonit. Travelingandwhatitisconsist fromfreedominmovementisthe mostimportanteffectivewayof learninganddiscoveringoneself andtheothers.Butyouthmobility isamirageformostyoungpeople inArabcountriesandformanyin Europe.

Group3:Overcomingprejudice
MutualperceptionsbetweenArab andEuropeanyoutharedeeply influencedbyprejudiceand ethnocentrism,oftencoupledwith superficialandstereotypicalviews ofeachother.Intercultural dialoguecanonlythriveifthese mattersareaddressedanddealt

Aresocialmediausefulin promotingintercultural dialogue?Ifso,how? AreArabandEuropeanyoung peoplecloserduetosocial media? Isthereacommonculture beingdeveloped? Whichchallengesdoyoung peoplefaceinrelationtosocial media? Howcanyoungpeoplebetter shapethewaytheInternetand socialmediaarerun?

Whichpossibilitiesforyouth mobilityexistandwhichyoung peoplecanparticipate? Howcanyouthmobility supportinterculturaldialogue andcooperation? Whatshouldbepursued,inthe EuropeanandintheArab regionsandbetweenthem,to increaseopportunitiesfor ArabEuropeanyouthmobility?

with. - Howisprejudiceinfluencing ourmutualperceptionsand conditioningourcooperation? - Whatcanyouthorganisations do,throughinformalandnon formaleducation,toundothe negativeimpactofprejudice andethnocentrism? - Whatsupportdotheyneedfor that? - Whatshouldbetheroleof ArabEuropeanyouth cooperationforthispurpose?

PARTICIPANTS TheforumispreparedforyouthleadersandyouthworkersresidentinmemberstatesoftheLeague ofArabStatesortheCouncilofEurope.Allparticipantsmustalsomeetthefollowingcriteria: Beagedbetween18and30years Haveademonstratedexperienceincivilsocietyandyouthwork Beactivelyinterestedintheforumaxesaswellastheissuestobediscussedandinfollowing upoftheforumwithintheirorganisations. AbilitytocommunicateandcommunicateinEnglish. Theorganisersaimtoselectandinvite: 40participantsfrommemberstatesoftheLeague 30participantsfromtheCouncilofEurope 10participantsfromQatar. Theselectionwillrespectanequalnumberofmaleandfemaleparticipantsfromeachcountry (whereappropriate,fortheEuropeancountries) RECRUITMENTOFEUROPEANPARTICIPANTS The Council of Europes Youth Department contributes to the forum in various ways, including input inthepreparatoryprocessandrecruitmentofEuropeanparticipants. PartoftheCouncilofEuropesroleisalsotoinviteincooperationwiththeEuropeanYouthForum and support the participation of 2530 youth leaders and youth workers from Council of Europe memberstates. This call concerns the recruitment and selection of these participants only. The selection of the final group of European participants will be done by the Council of Europe in consultation with the EuropeanYouthForum. PRACTICALDETAILS Dates:811December2013(arrivalrecommendedfor7anddeparturefor12December) Place:Doha,Qatar VisaandTravelconsiderations Participants selected by the Council of Europe (directly or via the European Youth Forum) will receiveaninvitationletterandinstructionsconcerningpossiblevisarequirementsforQatar.Thevisa deliverywillbefacilitatedbytheQatariauthoritiesfortheparticipantsoftheforum.
7

FINANCIALANDADMINISTRATIVECONDITIONSOFPARTICIPATION Accommodation and meals will be provided, for the duration of the forum, by the Youth Activities Department,MinistryofCulture,ArtsandHeritageofQatar TravelexpensesforparticipantsfromEurope,invitedbytheEuropeanYouthForumortheCouncilof Europe,willbereimbursedbytheCouncilofEuropeaccordingtotheCouncilofEuroperules.Tothe extentofthepossible,theCouncilofEuropewillprovideprepaidticketstotheparticipants. PROCEDUREFORAPPLICATIONS All those interested in attending the forum should register and fill in an online application form at http://youthapplications.coe.int/accordingtotheinstructionsprovidedonthesite.Theapplication shouldbeaccompaniedbyasupportingletterofthesendingorganisationorinstitutionwhichstates thereasonswhytheparticipationoftheapplicantisimportantfortheorganisation. Applicantswillinformedaboutthedecisionconcerningtheirapplicationby10October. Thedeadlineforsubmittingapplicationsis3October2013. Furtherinformation:eyc.programme@coe.int