* Khaled Al-Roussan wrote an article on April 19 titled “Arab Youth Today: How do they Think?” The article, published on Alroeya, indicates that due to the political and economic challenges facing the region, youth have many options. First, they turn to entrepreneurship and self-employment. Second, they attempt to protest their current conditions through all means available in hopes they receive their rights and achieve their visions. Third, they emigrate from their countries in search of better environments for their aspirations and dreams. In the midst of all that, youth are constantly told that they ought to maintain their cultural heritage, keep up with advancements, and achieve major success regardless of inhibiting factors, as they know that, should they fail, societies will criticize their energy and drive. 

* The Lebanon Youth Movement published a statement on April 23 in which it states that “the massacres that were committed against the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire were crimes against humanity despite the terrible global silence, indifference, and attempts at denial.” The statement adds that “we await realistic and solid decisions and a courageous, frank, and clear recognition of the responsibilities, obligations, and compensations that follow that must never fall over time and they constitute, in addition to the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators, a deterrent to similar incidents of genocide in the future.” The Movement closed in its statement by saying “the Turkish state must apologize and regret what happened with their ancestors, and then contribute to its noble position in championing truth and human dignity.”

* On April 20, Borgen Magazine published an article titled “10 Years Later: How Tunisia Managed the Democratic Transition”. The article raises an important of question of what made Tunisia different from the other protest movements in various other MENA countries? It argues that there are several factors behind Tunisia’s success, most important is the sustained pressure by the Tunisian people and the role of many pro-democracy NGOs. 

* The National Iraqi News Agency (Nina) reported on April 22 that the President of Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, stressed that Iraqi youth want change for the better. He added that those born in 2003 are now 18, and they do not fear the past and only want democracy and change for the better. He also stated that coexistence and partnerships are almost nonexistent in Iraq and that Daesh (ISIS) was born from political mistakes. Thus, there needs to be strong measures to improve the livelihoods of Iraqis. 

* A number of Palestinian young men and women launched “Did you Know” Initiative that aims to raise public awareness among Palestinians on their rights for acquiring information as well as to mobilize public support to demand better access to accurate and transparent information from decision makers. The founders of the initiative hope that their endeavor can promote transparency and accountability in decision-making in Palestine. The initiative is supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

* Hespress reported on April 23 that Moroccan youth in political parties have decided to give up partisan work directly following the abolishment of the National Youth List and replace it with regional lists dedicated entirely to women. The report adds that there is an anger among youth officials in political parties who have decided to leave political parties or freeze their activities, which tend to peak around elections. Many young party leaders hold the general secretaries of their political organizations responsible for forfeiting the seats allocated to them, which were described as "parliamentary rent." Youth of the parties hold their leaders accountable that they did not defend this list as needed, either during negotiations with the Ministry of the Interior or during the discussion of laws in Parliament.

* Libya’s minister of Youth, Fathallah Al-Zanni indicated, on April 19, that the Ministry of Youth is working to launch a youth parliament, as an initiative to spread democratic education among youth. The initiative seeks to employ youth’s interest in politics and democracy to contribute to their political development and benefit from that outcomes toward Libya’s future constitutional events, such as elections. 

* Turkey News Agency reported on April 20 that the Justice and Development Party has published a bookcompiling notable and important phrases, words, and positions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The book held the title of “With you, With Youth, Toward the Future” and it tells Erdogan’s story from the Mayor of Istanbul toward becoming the president. It indicates his speech upon his victory in elections in 2007, his response to the 2016 coupe attempt, and the reopening of Aya Sofia in 2020.