MENARY Monitor – Edition 123

August 6, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

Despite the announcement of tens of billions of dollars in aid to Yemen from donor countries and international institutions since 2015, the economic and living conditions present contrasting realities, raising questions about the actual impact and allocation of these funds on the lives of millions of citizens. Yemen is facing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, as classified by the United Nations. Officially declared Gulf aid to Yemen over nine years surpasses $27 billion, with additional humanitarian assistance from international relief agencies and donors like the United States amounting to around $20 billion, according to the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. However, the ongoing conflict and deprivation persist, with poverty expanding and over half of Yemen’s population suffering from hunger. Among the internally displaced, where women and children constitute 80%, the situation remains dire. The World Food Programme, which provides food to around 13 million people in Yemen and seeks $2.9 billion in funding this year, reports that funding shortages have resulted in reduced activities. Since June of the previous year, five million people receive only half of their daily needs, while eight million receive only a quarter.

Stringent measures, including operations targeting migrant smugglers, have led to a reduction in irregular migration through Turkey’s eastern border, particularly the Van border with Iran. Orhan Deniz, head of the Population and Migration Studies Center at Yüzüncü Yıl University, highlighted the impact of a border wall under construction, increased patrols, and operations against traffickers. The Interior Ministry reported record deportations, with 124,441 irregular migrants and 58,758 Syrians facilitated for voluntary return in the previous year. Deniz noted a significant decrease in irregular migrants at the border since January, attributing it to crackdowns on smuggling rings and nationwide operations against irregular migration. Deniz also observed a change in migrant profiles, with a shift from security-related concerns to economic motivations, especially among Afghan nationals, where youths and those seeking employment now comprise the majority of irregular migrants.

The Youth Directorate of Ajloun Governorate, Jordan, organized a camp titled “Enhancing Youth Participation in Political Life” in collaboration with the Independent Election Commission. Political party specialist Mohammed Al-Majali from the Independent Election Commission discussed mechanisms to enhance youth participation in political and party life, including the significance of electoral and party laws, and their importance in involving youth in political processes and decision-making. He emphasized the vital role of party work in selecting political elites capable of implementing party programs, whether political, economic, or social, for the public good. The camp aims to boost youth involvement in political and party activities and to educate them about electoral and party laws, as well as tools for political engagement. Discussions within the camp revolved around workshops aimed at raising awareness among youth about their roles in political and party life.

Egyptian social media was abuzz with criticism and questions after a photo circulated of former military general Samir Farag delivering a lecture to a new batch of diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the photo, Farag is seen giving a lecture on “Dimensions of Egyptian National Security,” sparking wide debate among Egyptians, as the young diplomats were seen dressed in military clothes in the photo. Some Twitter users called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify whether the young diplomats undergo military training before joining the ministry.

Economics and Entrepreneurship

The informal economy has become a refuge for Tunisian youth seeking employment, as its operational capacity has expanded to include half of the country’s workforce. Despite the precariousness of informal jobs, Tunisian youth are increasingly turning to this sector. A study conducted by Friedrich Ebert Foundation revealed that around 77% of young people are engaged in informal work without contracts or social coverage. The shift towards the informal labor market is attributed to the limited opportunities in the organized job market. High levels of risk and limited financial support in the formal sector drive young people, including university graduates, towards the informal sector. The study also highlights the changing profile of migrants, with youth primarily seeking economic opportunities. Tunisia has been facing unemployment challenges, with an overall unemployment rate 40.2% among youth.

A new poll conducted by Bayt found that 71% of Moroccans want to emigrate in pursuit of career advancement. The survey also highlights that 71% of employees are open to switching fields or sectors if it facilitates emigration, and 49% aspire for higher-ranking positions. The National Observatory of Human Development (ONDH) further reported that seven out of ten young Moroccans were enticed by the prospect of migrating abroad, with 83% expressing dissatisfaction with their current lives. Notably, the desire to emigrate is prominent among Moroccan youth, who view it as a means to enhance their skills, professional qualifications, and financial prospects. This aspiration extends beyond the younger demographic, encompassing established professionals such as doctors, engineers, and technicians.

During a seminar on the role of the Moroccan expatriates in local and regional development, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family, Aouatif Hayar, emphasized the importance of creating suitable conditions for the integration of Moroccans living abroad in the country’s development initiatives. She stressed that these conditions should involve collaboration among institutional, territorial, and civil society stakeholders, along with enhancing international cooperation and partnerships in research and innovation. With approximately 5.1 million people living abroad, 60% of whom are aged between 15 and 39, the minister highlighted that their skills and expertise could contribute to Morocco’s economic and social progress across various fields such as investment, entrepreneurship, scientific research, innovation, and modern technology.

The Arab Youth Center and General Motors Africa & Middle East have launched the second phase of the “Arab Youth Technology Fellowship” program, focused on enhancing STEM skills and business leadership among Arab youth. This collaborative effort offers theoretical and practical training, including mentoring, dialogue, and internships with GM’s regional leadership and partners. The program aims to elevate the next generation’s skillset, leadership abilities, and innovative thinking. Discussions during mentorship sessions and internships covered technology, sustainability, and future mobility, allowing talents to benefit from GM’s expertise. The program spans crucial topics like AI-driven mobility, partnerships with startups, innovation, and women’s leadership. The second phase offers opportunities, business incubators, and training with the goal of fostering innovative projects led by youth.

EarthLink has announced its intention to train and employ at least 1000 young Iraqi graduates who have qualified through the “Entrepreneurship” initiative, launched by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani. The CEO of EarthLink made this announcement during the closing events of the “National Youth Dialogue” conference held in Baghdad. He stated that the company will embark on a new era of private sector contribution by training and employing at least a thousand young graduates from the Entrepreneurship initiative, providing them with benefits equivalent to those of government employees, including guarantees, retirement plans, and allowances. He further highlighted that supporting the initiative is a way for the company to give back to the Iraqi community and that this will not be the last initiative of its kind.

The twelfth edition of the Youth City 2030 Initiative was launched at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center. The initiative aims to train Bahraini youth and prepare them for the job market through various well-designed programs that meet their needs and the requirements of the labor market. The initiative offers 2,740 training opportunities across different fields through more than 100 carefully designed programs. These programs focus on technical, practical, and creative aspects to develop participants’ skills and capabilities, enabling them to excel and enter the job market.

As part of its efforts to invest in the potential of Jordanian youth, the All Jordan Youth Commission launched an e-commerce training program with the aim to provide comprehensive training in content creation, e-platform management, e-commerce, and e-marketing. The training is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge, practical and theoretical skills, and competitiveness in the job market. The program incorporates modern teaching methodologies, evaluation indicators, and pre-defined action plans, with a focus on post-training assessment and continuous development.

As part of youth development and capacity building in robotics and artificial intelligence, the second edition of the “National Summer Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Camp” was launched in Tunisia. The camp, supervised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, aims to enhance the skills of 96 young participants from 24 regions in Tunisia in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. The initiative includes workshops, creative activities, and scientific engagement, showcasing Tunisian youth’s excellence in global robotics and AI. The project’s objectives encompass skill development, fostering creativity and excellence, and facilitating knowledge exchange among active youth in the field. The camp reflects the collaboration of various youth institutions and encourages technological advancement while providing a platform for networking among the participants.

Conflict

Israeli occupation forces conducted a series of widespread arrests in several areas of the occupied Palestinian territories, including former prisoners, leading to clashes and confrontations. The raids and arrests were concentrated in Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, and Qalqilya, where dozens of homes were raided, causing destruction and subjecting residents to field interrogations. Palestinian organizations concerned with prisoners’ affairs reported that Israeli occupation forces arrested 25 Palestinians from the West Bank, transferring them for interrogation under the pretext of involvement in popular resistance against settlers and the occupation. The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported the arrest of 13 Palestinians during a widespread arrest campaign in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Israeli forces targeted homes and caused destruction, arresting three young Palestinians. In Jenin, occupation forces targeted the town of Burqin, arresting six people after entering the town with military reinforcements. The ongoing surge in arrests, accompanied by widespread harassment and destruction, has been termed “collective punishment.” The prisoner’s club has documented approximately 4,300 arrests since the beginning of the year, with Israeli authorities implementing these measures as a daily policy to suppress growing resistance.

Amid heightened tensions, Israeli forces fatally shot an 18-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank during a raid in Tulkarm. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victim and reported he was shot in the head during a military operation near a refugee camp, leading to clashes. The area hosts around 40,700 Palestinian IDPs, descendants of those displaced in the 1948 conflict. The past 15 months have witnessed escalated violence in the West Bank, marked by increased Israeli operations, Palestinian attacks, and settler-related unrest.

Development

A recent report reveals that Iraq has shifted from being a transit point for drugs to becoming a consumer of drugs, facilitated by the influx of drugs from Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan traveling to Gulf countries, particularly to Saudi Arabia. Ceptagon, produced by Assad’s forces in Syria, has gained prominence in Iraq, being used as an alternative form of currency for road tolls. This shift has led to the drug being resold and consumed domestically, contributing to a rise in addiction among Iraqi youth. Amid this escalation, Iraqi security forces conduct regular anti-drug operations and arrests, highlighting the growing drug consumption crisis. Rehabilitation centers in Iraq have reported an increase in drug-related admissions, with individuals as young as 14 years old seeking help, reflecting a worrisome trend. The recent discovery of a drug production facility in Iraq highlights the severity of the issue.

Jordan has a severe smoking issue, highlighted by a recent World Bank report. The country exhibits one of the world’s highest smoking rates, with alarming statistics such as 24% of students aged 13-15 identifying as active smokers, and over 60% of adult men and 41% of the total adult population being smokers. This places Jordan with the highest smoking prevalence in the MENA region. Smoking-related consequences lead to approximately one in eight deaths in the nation, costing an estimated $2.67 billion in healthcare expenses, productivity losses, and associated costs. Vulnerable segments of Jordanian society, particularly the poorest, suffer the most from tobacco use.

The Youth and Sports Directorate in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt, has implemented “Our Borders, Our Pulse” initiative, which aims to support youth initiatives and innovative community projects. The program was carried out at youth centers and featured training on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, community monitoring tools, and planning community initiatives. Additionally, a “Best Community Initiative and Project” competition was launched, with winning initiatives and projects being further developed in interactive camps.

Education

A total of 24 Egyptian universities are participating in the 13th edition of the Universities and Higher Institutes Youth Week, which is set to take place in September 2023. The event comes in line with the state’s strategy to support and engage university youth, encouraging them to excel in various fields and participate in diverse activities that contribute to their development and skills. It includes a range of competitive sporting, scientific, social, artistic, cultural, and youth activities, as well as parallel and diverse events for Egyptian university students. 

The Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority has announced the commencement of training 755 university students across its centers, as part of the summer training program aimed at providing training to 1,900 students from Egyptian universities. The training covered topics such as nuclear research, radiation safety, and applications of atomic energy. Various centers within the authority hosted the students, including the Nuclear Research Center, where students learned about plant research, biotechnological applications, water and land studies, and more. Additionally, other centers focused on radiation measurements, nuclear isotopes, and safety. This training aims to enhance students’ knowledge in atomic energy and radiation safety and is part of a broader effort to engage youth in scientific pursuits.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 122

July 30, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

Salah El-Din Tayyar, founder of the Algerian Youth Ambassadors, said that relations between his country and Russia have entered new heights, after the signing of the Deepened Partnership Declaration, in mid-June, after it was limited to cooperation in the military-security field. The founder of the Foundation, which is active in organizing educational and cultural programs dedicated to young people and young leaders, revealed, in an interview conducted with him by “Sputnik”, on the sidelines of the “Second Russian-African Summit and the Economic and Humanitarian Forum” held in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, that he had asked Moscow to open a cultural center in Algeria to build bridges of communication between young people from the two countries.

Over the last decade, the Arab Barometer’s surveys have captured youth public opinion in countries across the Middle East and North Africa. MENA youth have consistently raised concerns about their countries’ economic performance, job opportunities, quality of education, and political and civil rights. While a desire for change is present, and reform movements have developed in the wake of the 2011 Arab uprisings, MENA youth seem to be unable to exact meaningful political change, according to a new report by Carnegie.

The Iranian regime is still struggling to contain the protests and confront the women’s revolution. The Iranian Ministry of Culture and Guidance is working to make changes in its structure, by launching a campaign to hire dozens of its loyalists, who are known to the regime as “Hezbollah youth”, and expel others, according to what Iranian Minister of Culture and Guidance, Muhammad Mahdi Ismaili, announced.

The Moroccan Forum for Young Journalists announced that it will organize, in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation – Rabat Office, on July 29 and 30 in Marrakech, a training course on “basic concepts related to human rights for quality Moroccan journalism”, for a group of professional journalists. The aforementioned forum stated, in a statement, that “the organization of this training comes as part of a partnership agreement concluded between the Moroccan Forum for Young Journalists and the Heinrich Böll Foundation – Rabat, Morocco, in order to educate male and female journalists and enhance their capabilities with regard to basic concepts related to human rights, and to promote Moroccan journalism.” Quality that respects professional ethics and its controls.

The Youth Directorate of Irbid Governorate implemented, within Al-Hussein Camps for Labor and Construction 2023, a camp to enhance youth participation in political life, through which it targeted youth in youth clubs and organizations and the local community in Irbid Governorate, with the participation of 23 young men and women within the age group of 18-30 years, and in the presence of the heads of clubs in the district and the Independent Electoral Commission. The camp aims to enhance youth participation in party life and introduce participants to the electoral law, political parties and participation.

A dialogue session was held in the municipality of Ubari on the Youth Charter, through which many axes concerned with youth were discussed, with the participation of a number of young people in the municipality.

Economics and Entrepreneurship

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the Central Department for Youth Empowerment, in cooperation with UNICEF, launched the training program for the “Mishwary” project for skills development and entrepreneurship, from 25-31 of July, in the new city of Nubaria. The training targets, as a first stage, 500 young men and women from the “Haya Karima” youth centers and sports clubs, which include 50 youth centers and sports clubs from Al-Thaheir Al-Sahrawi area. The training targets youth aged 16-24, in the hall of the new city of Nubaria.

The summer activity at the Arab Sports Club organized a training course, in cooperation with the Qatar Wireless Sports Center, on drones, and the best way to deal with this type of technology. The program included a theoretical definition of the drone, then a training program on drones, and their areas of use, including the war and media fields, taking into account the need for ratification by the responsible authorities in the country, and out of concern for the privacy of individuals and societies, and out of the club’s keenness to train and qualify young people, refine their skills and discover their talents in various fields, and with the participation of a large number of summer activity affiliates in the club.

Conflict

The Palestinian Authority health ministry said early Thursday that a 14-year-old Palestinian was killed in clashes with the Israel Defense Forces operating in Qalqilya, in the West Bank. 

Israeli occupation forces closed the Wadi et-Tuffah and Bir Seba Street in the center of Hebron, along with dozens of businesses, to prevent Palestinians from accessing an area considered sacred by illegal settlers. “For the first time, the army allowed settlers to raid a Palestinian area in Bab El-Zawiye at this time of the year, which is something new,” President of the Youth Anti-Settlement Union, Isa Amro, told Anadolu Agency in a statement. He said fanatic settlers were due to head to “Hebron tomb” on Bir Seba Street.

From one arena to another, the challenges and problems facing Palestinian youth abroad vary, and the biggest challenge remains to keep the state of belonging to the homeland alive and effective, working for it, and interacting with its issues. In Lebanon, one of the countries that surrounds and is in contact with the homeland, Palestinian youth find themselves besieged by many crises that they are trying to overcome without distracting them from their first issue and their eternal dream of achieving return.

In mid-July, the EU finalized a much-anticipated agreement with Tunisia to cooperate on curbing a surge in migration flows to Europe’s Mediterranean shores, but international law experts and humanitarian groups warn that the €1 billion deal could lead to severe rights violations instead of helping solve complex issues. The deal aims to prevent migrants from reaching Europe irregularly; increase returns of Tunisian citizens who have no permission to stay in Europe; and facilitate repatriation from Tunisia to third countries of migrants of other nationalities.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called to adopt a comprehensive development vision in countries experiencing an exodus of migrants as the only solution to the phenomenon of irregular migration which he said is affecting North African countries as much as Europe. In a speech read by Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane in Rome, Tebboune said while the security treatment of the migration file responds to the urgent need to maintain public order and combat smuggling and human trafficking networks, it does not contribute to addressing this phenomenon in a sustainable manner. Comprehensive solutions that guarantee stability, advance development dynamics and create job opportunities for youth in source countries are the only solutions, he said. In this context, he pointed out that Algeria’s approach to combating illegal immigration “is based on supporting peace and security in these countries, while calling to mobilize more funding for the implementation of development projects to benefit African countries,” and that “the situation has worsened as a result of security measures and provisions to protect the European Union’s external borders and tighten visa-granting procedures,” said Tebboune, explaining that his country, “driven by its permanent solidarity with neighboring countries, has for many years adopted a relatively tolerant policy towards these flows, which has led to an unprecedented rise in the number of illegal migrants who have settled on its territory.”

Development

Bahnini Hall in Rabat witnessed the inauguration of the second session of the “Morocco with Purpose” program, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, and directed to young Moroccans living abroad to strengthen their ties with their home country. In a speech on the occasion, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed El Mehdi Bensaïd, praised this initiative “because it came from Moroccans of the world in service to the Moroccans of the world,” considering that “living outside the homeland makes immigrants have a stronger bond with their country of origin, and more awareness of the needs of Moroccans in the diaspora.” For her part, Heba El-Eidi, the supervisor of the Morocco with Purpose program, expressed her happiness that the project has reached its second round, adding that it is about “a week of cultural integration, from which forty Moroccan immigrants aged 18 to 25 will get to know their homeland in an innovative way.”

The activities of the community security and police camp, implemented by the Karak Youth Directorate, Jordan, were concluded. The camp aims to raise the level of awareness among young people in the security field. The Director of the Karak Youth Directorate, Dr. Thamer Al-Majali, said that the camp aims to raise the level of security awareness among young people aged 15-17, and motivate them to contribute to achieving community security, cooperate with security men, and interact with the activities carried out by the Public Security Directorate (PSD), leading to a safe and stable society.

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority launched the “Aafaq Al-Diriyah Summer Program for Youth”, which runs for 4 weeks, from Sunday to Thursday of each week. It features activities and workshops focusing on enhancing knowledge, leadership, values, and skills for youth aged 9-17, with the aim of developing their personalities, culture, and their admiration for social responsibility. The program is a promising opportunity for the participants, especially as it includes a number of tracks, activities and various events, including exploring the historic Al-Turaif neighborhood, with the aim of inspiring young people with the value and heritage of this historical site, to become ambassadors of Diriyah, adhering to the values it represents, which develops in them a sense of pride and appreciation in the cultural heritage of Diriyah.

Environment

The Ma’an Youth Association for the Preservation of the Environment (in Jordan) has started implementing the first stages of the “Smart Village for Sustainable Development” project, which aims to promote sustainable development to confront climate change. The project is implemented with funding from the French Development Agency, within the framework of the MINCA initiative, and with the support of the Innovation and Agricultural Entrepreneurship Incubator at the National Center for Agricultural Research, the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, the Greater Ma’an Municipality, rural electrification projects, and smart desert.

Under the slogan “cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility,” the Youth Union of Parties and Political Components for Advocating Social Causes and Supporting Local Authorities, in Aden, implemented a cleaning campaign. The campaign targeted Abyan’s coastline and focused on cleaning the beach area, removing waste and garbage scattered in the sand, rocks, and public spaces. Continuing their proactive approach to address the issue of waste accumulation, the youth of the union aimed to clean and address various locations affected by garbage, particularly coastal areas. The youth emphasized the importance of cleanliness and raised awareness about environmental and health risks. The union called upon all citizens to work collectively to preserve the cleanliness of Aden to safeguard a clean and safe environment.

The Faculty of Politics and Economics at Suez University organized the closing ceremony of the COP27 climate change simulation models, attended by representatives from the European Union and the Egyptian Stock Exchange. The Dean of the Faculty supervised the simulation models presented by the students.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 120

July 16, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

The European Parliament has issued recommendations urging the Palestinian Authority (PA) to conduct parliamentary and presidential elections without delay. The recommendations emphasized the need for these elections to be “free, credible, inclusive, transparent, and fair,” stating that they are crucial for strengthening the PA’s legitimacy. The Parliament reaffirmed the European Union’s unwavering support for the two-state solution, emphasizing that it is the only viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The European Parliament expressed its concern over the PA’s failure to hold elections for more than 16 years and supported Palestinian demands for inclusive political representation. It urged the Palestinian leadership to create the necessary conditions for conducting free and transparent elections, encouraging the participation of youth, women, and minorities. The Parliament stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and respect for freedom of expression. Additionally, it demanded that Israel fulfill its obligations to enable these elections to take place in East Jerusalem.

Several sources indicated that the Turkish security services carried out a large-scale campaign targeting several Arab nationalities, claiming that their residence permits were not renewed. However, these sources also made it clear that the campaign targeted the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood youth, who spread their fears on social networks, and many of them confirmed that they are being pursued by Turkish security on the grounds that their residency has expired, and that they are threatened with deportation to Egypt.

The Defense of Detainees Association in Tunisia announced that the Court of Appeal in Tunis has ordered the release of two detainees in the “conspiracy against state security.” The association stated in a press release that the Court rejected the public prosecutor’s appeal against the investigating judge’s decision to release opposition leader Shaima Issa, and granted the defense’s request to release political activist and lawyer Lazhar Akrami. The court denied the release of other detainees in the same case. Earlier, dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Court, demanding the release of detainees in case. The protest was organized by the Salvation Front, which includes several detainees and was attended by members of political parties affiliated with the front and the families of the detainees. The demonstrators denounced what they called the judiciary’s use to target President Kais Saied’s opponents, carrying banners condemning the arrests and raising pictures of the detainees, including politicians, judges, and activists.

Lebanese journalist Dima Sadek’s sentencing to one year in jail has sparked a wave of solidarity on social media. Sadek was accused of defamation, slander, and inciting sectarian strife by the leader of a prominent Christian political party in Lebanon. Judge Rosine Hojeili issued the verdict, imposing a jail sentence and a fine of 110 million Lebanese pounds. The case stemmed from Sadek’s tweets describing the actions of the Free Patriotic Movement as “racist” and “Nazi-like” following an incident where two young men from Tripoli were beaten by FPM supporters in Keserwan. Sadek highlighted the sectarian nature of the incident, which was caught on camera and widely shared on social media. While the assailants were not held accountable, Sadek expressed her intention to appeal the ruling and warned of the dangerous precedent it sets for freedom of journalism and expression in Lebanon, and the solidarity campaign reflects growing concerns over press freedom and the judiciary’s impact on the media landscape in Lebanon.

The “National Conference of Palestinian Youth” called for the activation of the role of youth and their empowerment in all fields of Palestinian national work, considering it a shared responsibility between the youth themselves and the active Palestinian groups. It praised the Palestinian people’s support for the choice of resistance and their courageous and steadfast response to the occupying force in our occupied lands, Jerusalem, Gaza, and all cities of the West Bank. The participants in the conference agreed to form a committee to study the strategy of Palestinian youth work as a result of the dialogues and discussions held during the workshops at the conference. Special committees were formed to study and implement proposed programs and projects by the participants, notably launching a twinning program between Palestinian youth inside and outside Palestine, forming a committee to address the common concerns and challenges facing Palestinian youth refugees in diaspora countries and refugee camps, and establishing training paths to enhance capacities and skills in the field of national work.

The political office of the Shabab Lebanon Movement emphasized that “the Lebanese people cannot accept the imposition of external will, regardless of its nature or form, through the settlement of refugees and keeping them in Lebanon under the guise of asylum.” They called for a prompt decision to return them to their homeland. In a statement, they expressed their concern about the successive crises, unprecedented deterioration in all levels, and the foreign proposals that are being introduced without any consideration for the constitution and the Lebanese fabric. The statement added that “the movement aims to avoid engaging in disputes with any party to prevent further fragmentation in their country and among their people, the current situation necessitates taking a firm political stance to reject anything that threatens the integrity of the nation and the unity of its people and territory.”

The Directorate of Youth in the Capital Governorate, Jordan, conducted a workshop, as part of the 2023 Hussein Camps for Work and Construction. The workshop focused on political participation and parties, and it was attended by representatives of clubs, youth organizations, and local communities in Amman. The camp aims to enhance youth participation in party life and familiarize participants with election laws, political parties, and political engagement. The session discussed the importance of election and party laws in increasing political participation, involving and encouraging youth in the political and party processes and decision-making. During a session on “Political Development and Parties: Political Empowerment of Youth,” Jordan’s Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs emphasized that the participation of women and youth in party work would bring about a qualitative shift in the future development of Jordan’s political, economic, and administrative systems. He highlighted that universities serve as incubators for organized political action, urging young people not to focus on negative social realities but to promote a positive culture. He stressed the need to expand youth participation in party work, as weak representation in party involvement leads to weak political actions and ineffective parliaments. He emphasized that the upcoming phase is about the meeting of strong forces in public work, and deeper party participation will yield better choices in various aspects.

The Youth Ambassadors Program for Chinese-Arab Friendship 2023 and a dialogue forum between Chinese and Middle Eastern youth were launched in Beijing, sponsored by the Chinese People’s Friendship Association with Foreign Countries and Peking University. The forum was attended by many Chinese and Arab diplomats, and Arab delegations from 14 Arab countries, including the UAE. United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Economics and Entrepreneurship

Gender disparities and biases in the Arab job market and entrepreneurship are hindering women’s participation and progress, according to recent reports. In Arab countries, only 19% of women are part of the labor force, the lowest rate globally and well below the global average of 48%, as highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This limited participation is reflected in the business sector, with women-led startups facing challenges in attracting investment from regional investors. In the MENA region, women-founded businesses received just 2% of the $2.4 billion invested in nearly 500 startups during the first nine months of 2022. A survey conducted by Wamda revealed that over 66% of female founders identified securing investment as their biggest obstacle. ILO projects that less than 10% of the estimated 400,000 green jobs created for Arab youth will be occupied by women, underscoring persistent gender inequalities in the region. These findings emphasize the urgent need to address gender disparities and biases to foster a more inclusive and diverse business environment in the Arab world.

Mujtama is a digital platform that utilizes artificial intelligence techniques to assist young job seekers in finding suitable employment opportunities by evaluating their LinkedIn accounts. Among the world’s crises today is the issue of unemployment, where a large number of young people in the Arab world face difficulties in finding jobs and employment opportunities after graduation or due to challenging circumstances. In this context, Khalid Al-Ahmad and Mohannad Al-Tasilq launched a pioneering startup company called “Mujtama.ai”, which leverages the power of technology, artificial intelligence, and the vast potential available through LinkedIn. The platform aims to help young job seekers find suitable employment opportunities by evaluating their job search accounts, making their presence on LinkedIn more effective.

Siltak and Education Above All organized a panel discussion on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2023 in New York. The session, titled “Prospering in the Sustainable Economy: Empowering Marginalized Youth through Green Jobs,” aims to highlight the importance of sustainable entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills training in creating job opportunities and promoting economic transformation. These efforts align closely with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth and Goal 13 on climate action. Participants in the session include the Qatar Fund for Development, the United Nations World Food Programme, UNICEF, the International Labor Organization, as well as young activists in the field of climate action. The participants aim to emphasize the need for sustainable solutions to address environmental concerns and provide livelihood opportunities for marginalized communities impacted by climate change.

The Youth Committee of “We Are All Jordan” organized an informative session in cooperation with Bluemont Foundation in Madaba on “Entrepreneurship and Licensing for Start-up Projects.” The session aimed to familiarize youth with the procedures for registering and licensing start-up projects, requirements, general professional practices, and the benefits of giving their projects an official status in terms of marketing and protecting their rights. The coordinator of the committee in Madaba emphasized the importance of home-based entrepreneurial projects in achieving development, reducing poverty and unemployment, and empowering communities. Various challenges arose due to different procedures from one municipality to another. To address this, the government has unified and standardized the procedures for home-based professions across the kingdom.

The National Bank of Egypt was able to manage twelve financing deals, with a total value of EGP 27 billion during the first half of 2023. This is the largest number of deals arranged, managed and marketed on the level of the continent of Africa. This success is a reflection of the bank’s continuous keenness to provide the necessary financing needs for major projects, in various vital economic sectors such as industry, infrastructure, real estate development, contracting and building materials, which contributes positively to supporting the country’s economic development, and thus providing more job opportunities for Egyptian youth and increasing economic growth rates.

Within the framework of the cooperation protocol between the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, digital educational activities are being implemented at Hayat Karema Youth Centers in the Directorate of Youth and Sports in Damietta. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology aims to build a digital Egypt and create a digitally literate Egyptian society in all aspects of life. It focuses on enhancing the infrastructure of information technology and communications, improving digital services in government entities, and enhancing the performance of ministries and other government bodies.

Conflict

A third Palestinian was killed on Friday by the occupation bullets, in the village of Umm Safa, north of Ramallah, hours after the occupation army executed two others in the Old City of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. And the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that a citizen was killed by the occupation forces in the village of Umm Safa, and another Palestinian was moderately wounded by settler bullets near the town of Beit Ummar north of Hebron. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the death of a young man, who was shot by Israeli occupation forces, near the village of Deir Nizam, northwest of Ramallah.

An Israeli report confirmed that the methods employed by the occupation forces and the Shin Bet against Palestinians in the West Bank have become exhausted and have turned into a cycle of violence that feeds itself. The report highlighted that the more the Israeli army intensifies its activities against the resistance and inflicts casualties, the greater the motivation for Palestinian youth to join the fight against the Israeli army. The report, issued by the Zionist National Security Studies Institute and published on the Akka website, stated that it is evident that the Israeli army has lost control over settlers in the northern West Bank, who, in turn, escalate acts of revenge against Palestinians and receive political support from extremist ministers in the government.

Israeli occupation forces forcibly evicted a Palestinian family from their home in occupied East Jerusalem, sparking outrage and condemnation from activists and locals. The Sub Laban family, who had resided in the house for 70 years, were forced out by around 20 heavily armed officers. The eviction was carried out to make way for settler groups, with the Israeli Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Galicia Settlement Association’s claim that the house belonged to Jews prior to 1948. Eyewitnesses reported the deployment of special units and the establishment of military checkpoints in the neighborhood before Israeli forces stormed the family home. Videos circulated online showed the distressed family members being pushed onto the streets, while activists and journalists who came to support them were dispersed. This violation adds to ongoing tensions and further highlights the magnitude of the issue of settler expansion in East Jerusalem.

A recent annual survey conducted by BCW revealed that around two-thirds (60%) of Arab youth believe that relations between Iran, Israel, and the West will deteriorate and eventually lead to a military conflict. While many predict that the Iranian government will become more authoritarian in the future, approximately one-third of the participants expect further civil unrest or even a coup in the country. The main focus of this year’s survey is the “New Reality and Changing Perspectives” among Arab youth. Although the majority of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) youth (60%) see the possibility of reaching a positive solution, over two-thirds (69%) in the Eastern Mediterranean and more than half (57%) in North Africa believe it is “highly unlikely” or “somewhat unlikely” that the conflict will be resolved soon. Furthermore, around 4 out of 10 (39%) Arab youth feel that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict does not receive sufficient attention from the Arab world amidst emerging national priorities, with this percentage rising to over half (51%) in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

In response to the escalating drug epidemic among Iraqi youth, the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, has expressed efforts to curb the phenomenon. Drug trafficking and abuse have reached unprecedented levels. Drugs are prevalent, sold, and distributed in impoverished and deprived areas, particularly in Baghdad and southern provinces. There is no official published statistic on the number of drug users in the country, but according to security officials, drug abuse is widespread among young people of both genders. Drugs enter Iraq from the Iranian border, particularly crystal meth, while Captagon enters from the Syrian border. Hussein Al-Tamimi, the spokesperson for the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, stated that Iraq lacks any drug manufacturing facilities for substances like Captagon or crystal meth, and the ministry is working to combat this phenomenon by arresting all drug users and traffickers. He mentioned that the security forces have conducted campaigns against drug traffickers and users in the early months of this year, resulting in the arrest of 10,000 individuals on charges of drug abuse. Out of those, 5,000 have been convicted, and judicial rulings have been issued against them. Al-Tamimi affirmed that 2023 will be the year to eliminate drugs in Iraq. The ministry’s approach to drug control involves intelligence gathering, security operations, raising awareness, and educating young people about the dangers of drug addiction. Al-Tamimi emphasized that a serious commitment to drug control will result in a significant increase in drug seizures and the apprehension of traffickers and users. He also mentioned that Iraq is collaborating with neighboring countries to combat this phenomenon and announced the first international conference on drug control in Baghdad, which will be attended by Arab and foreign nations.

Under the pretext of participating in the army’s war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in late June, the Sudanese Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan called on Sudanese youth to join the army to confront the RSF. Siddig Elzailaee writes that this call did not come out of nowhere; instead, it is the result of several factors and has multiple objectives. It is a consequence of what has happened to the army during the Islamist era. The author adds that this could be the beginning of a catastrophic civil war, as a sector of western tribes has aligned itself with the RSF. Elzailaee urged Sudanese youth not to be swayed by false calls. This war is not their war, and they have no stake in it. It is a conflict between opportunists seeking to seize the wealth of the country. Regardless of its final outcome, the country and its people will be the losers. The victims will be the sons and daughters of our people, those who volunteer to participate and those who remain in their homes. The most important lesson is what happened to thousands of our people who were pushed into the abyss of the South’s war.

Sudanese refugees in Sfax, Tunisia, have faced a brutal crackdown by security forces, characterized by violent beatings and mass expulsions. This crackdown is believed to be an early implementation of an agreement between Tunisia and the European Union, designed to curb migration toward the Mediterranean Sea and to strengthen the Tunisian economy. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented mass expulsions of hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers to the Tunisia-Libya border, supported by videos, photos, and testimonies showing the abuse suffered at the hands of Tunisian security forces. Reports on social media indicate that police subjected migrants to physical assault and forcefully expelled them from the city. Sudanese refugees, who possess UNHCR asylum-seeker cards and cannot return to their war-torn homeland, find themselves in dire conditions in Sfax, with witnesses describing them as camped in public parks without proper access to food, water, or shelter.

The MASAM project, responsible for demining operations in Yemen, announced that its field teams cleared 762 mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices last week, bringing the total to 1,334 items cleared since the beginning of July. During the second week of this month, MASAM teams successfully cleared an area of 209,667 square meters of Yemeni land, reaching a total area cleared since the beginning of the month to 268,226 square meters. The project highlighted that the total number of cleared mines since the start of the project until July 14, reached 407,512 mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices.

According to an official report, 541 Yemeni families were displaced during the month of June. The Executive Unit for Displaced Camps Management stated in its monthly report that it tracked the displacement of 541 families, comprising 2,693 individuals, who were displaced in June. The report indicated that 458 families, representing 2,302 individuals, were displaced for the first time, while 83 families, representing 391 individuals, were displaced for the second time during this period. It highlighted that 20% of these families were displaced from Al-Hudaydah governorate, followed by Marib with 17%, and then Taiz and Ibb governorates with 11% and 10% respectively. The Executive Unit stated that in the first 6 months of 2023, a total of 4,732 families (26,253 individuals) were displaced.

According to the Information and Rehabilitation Center for Human Rights, Houthi militias have killed 4,105 civilians and injured 17,948 others, including women and children, in Taiz between March 21, 2015, and June 30, 2023. The center issued a report in which it reveals that among the victims, 878 were children and 464 were women, while among the injured, 2,132 were children and 2,660 were women. The report also highlights the tens of thousands of mines planted by Houthi militias, which have claimed the lives of approximately 779 civilians, including 38 children and 23 women, and injured 1,296 civilians, including 71 children and 30 women. The report further states that there were 496 cases of abduction, 175 cases of enforced disappearance, 897 cases of arbitrary detention, 102 cases of torture, 97 cases of assault on civilians, and 78 violations of freedom of opinion and expression.

Development

Over 130,000 Palestinian children in Gaza are benefiting from summer camps organized by the United Nations as a means to provide respite from the challenges of living in a territory under economic blockade and frequent conflicts with Israel. The camps, facilitated by UNRWA, offer a range of activities including sports, drawing, handicrafts, language learning, greening, and recycling. An UNRWA study revealed that 38% of children in Gaza displayed signs of functional impairment affecting their daily lives. The camps not only provide a space for children to enjoy their summer but also create temporary job opportunities for approximately 3,000 Gaza youth. Despite the challenging economic situation and ongoing conflicts, the camps allow children to simply be children, fostering a sense of normalcy and playfulness. UNRWA operates 284 schools in Gaza, catering to around 290,000 students.

In a three-dimensional design named “Yasmin Al-Amal,” a 17-year-old Syrian youth captured numerous ideas and messages he wants to convey about Syrian children and their suffering. The design aims to express Syrian children and youth’s capacities and perceptions. The young designed revealed that Yasmin, the protagonist of his design, is a child who was forced to flee from Aleppo to Latakia due to the conditions of the war. She lost her upper limbs due to injuries sustained during the earthquake that occurred last February. However, her spirit of hope, love for her country, determination, and willpower became her source of strength. Zaid points out that Yasmin regained hope after being fitted with prosthetic limbs, allowing her to overcome her disability while carrying her own pain and the pain of other Syrian children and their dreams. Through this design, she narrates the success stories of Syrian children despite their suffering to children around the world. Zaid also emphasizes that he intended to introduce Syrian cities, history, and heritage through the design and send a message that war and earthquakes have not deterred Syrian youth from working to achieve their aspirations and hopes.

Education

The Arab Bank and the Fund for the Future of Orphans, in Jordan, recently announced the renewal of their cooperation agreement for the thirteenth consecutive year. This agreement aims to empower the youth of the Fund and assist them in reaching self-reliance, becoming productive members of society through various care programs. The Arab Bank has been one of the key supporters of the Fund over the past years, with its support reaching a total of 86 male and female students in various university disciplines across all governorates of the country. Through the renewal of this cooperation agreement, a total of 30 young beneficiaries of the fund will have the chance to continue their educational journey. Some will join as new scholarship recipients, while others are currently pursuing their studies. The agreement also provides training and employment opportunities for graduate students.

FedEx Express and INJAZ Al-Arab have joined forces to empower the youth of the UAE and Saudi Arabia on International World Youth Skills Day 2023, through mentorship programs that aim to achieve a lasting impact on the future of young individuals. The programs focus on equipping students with essential workplace skills, fostering financial literacy, and promoting an understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation. In the UAE, students had the opportunity to gain practical experience in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity by interacting with members of the FedEx team. These efforts are geared towards preparing the youth for successful careers.

Environment

The COP28 Presidency office and the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on climate education during COP28. The agreement aims to advance a comprehensive approach to climate education and promote the involvement of youth. ECSSR will organize various activities, including events, exhibitions, panel discussions, and educational materials, to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability. The partnership will also result in the creation of digital assets such as short-casts, video episodes, and an audiobook to enhance climate change education. 

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi announced that the 12th session of the International Conference on Environmental Education will witness the convening of a conference on youth, noting that it has so far received participation from More than 100 young people, while a committee was formed to supervise its organization, as the supervising committee developed a questionnaire directed at young people to develop the conference program. The Scientific Committee of the 12th session of the Conference, hosted by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi from January 28 to February 2, 2024, expects the participation of more than 2,000 participants, while abstracts of academic working papers have been received from more than 30 countries around the world, following the invitation launched by the commission to submit abstracts. The commission provided the opportunity to participate in four different languages: English, Arabic, French and Spanish to encourage participation from different countries.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 113

May 28, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

The Atlantic Council highlighted that Syria’s youth who have paid the highest price in the Syrian conflict are left behind, amid ongoing normalization negotiations. Since 2011, over 30,000 children have been killed in attacks by the Syrian regime, and 47% of the 5.5 million refugees residing in neighboring countries are under the age of 25, third of whom do not have access to education. The report further calls for vigilance over Assad’s “Arab unity” remarks during the Arab Summit held recently, as such unity could very much take the shape of tighter power grabs, with Syrian youth – and youth of the region for that matter – are likely to be subsumed to that. 

Al-Monitor interviewed the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mohammad Halbousi. The interview report highlights that because Halbousi is younger than many of Iraq’s power brokers, he exhibits what can be called “a post-sectarian frustration with the status quo”, a sentiment shared among Iraq’s youth, across ethnic and sectarian lines. Halbousi highlighted during the interview that “Iraq has suffered from these disputes between neighbors. The youth of our society have lived their lives in the shadow of regional conflicts, and their negative consequences have taken a heavy toll on them, and on all Iraqis.”

Kamal Kaljdaroglu, Erdogan’s rival in Turkey’s presidential election, appealed to young voters to support him in the runoff as he looks to the president’s reign from entering its third decade. Kaljdaroglu received 45% of the votes, compared to 49.5% for Erdogan, just short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. The vote is seen as a referendum on Erdogan’s rule. Reports highlight that Turkish assets fell, especially government bonds, corporate bonds and bank stocks, as investors expect Erdogan to win and continue his unconventional economic policies. Kaljdaroglu sought to highlight the positive aspect of the first round in a series of tweets addressed to Turkish youth, stating “There is a message of change that has emerged from the polls. Those who want change in this country are now more than those who don’t“, referring to Erdogan’s inability to get 50 percent. Kaljdaroglu tilts young voters with reference to the cost-of-living crisis, which has worsened in Turkey as a result of Erdogan’s insistence on cutting interest rates, causing a sharp depreciation of the Turkish Lira and rising inflation. “You don’t have enough money for anything. You were robbed of the joy of life. We have 12 days to get out of this dark tunnel”. A Konda Research Foundation poll last year showed that about three-quarters of voters casting their ballots for the first time believe Erdogan’s victory would be bad for Turkey.

The Politics and Society Institute and Tomai Foundation for Youth Development unveiled a new book titled “Youth Policies in Arab Countries… What changed after the Arab Spring?“, written by Dr. Mohamed Abu Rumman and Kamel Nabelsi. The book emphasizes youth’s transformations and state responses in countries that witnesses mass uprisings during the two waves of the Arab Spring. Dr. Fares Braizat situated youth challenges within the context of state-society relations in general. He added that all the problems expressed as motives for the Arab Spring were unable to be transformed into political platforms that could be adopted from systematic and organized political movements with crystallized economic interests.

The Coordinator of the All Jordan Youth Committee in Irbid, Samer Marashda, said that Jordan has undergone serious political and party reforms, including positive laws governing political action, contributing to persuading young people to engage in political parties, especially that a legislation had reduced the age of candidacy to 25, and the national list mandating that the fifth seat should be reserved for young people under 35 years of age. These actions have contributed significantly to encouraging young people to engage in political action. In Irbid, a large number of young people are now active members of new political parties, including some who have assumed chairmanships of important committees.

A group of young Kuwaitis organized a panel discussion among the members of the fifth constituency of Diwan Al-Jumaa, with the aim of consolidating efforts against voting based on tribal affiliations, ahead of the Kuwait Parliamentary elections, scheduled for June 6. The panel was moderated by the political activists, who emphasized the importance of consolidating youth efforts towards the selection of the most suitable national candidates, in order to achieve comprehensive political reform, notably the modification of the electoral system, the establishment of a high electoral commission, and the repeal of laws restricting freedoms.

A Kuwaiti activist, previously convicted over tweets critical of Saudi Arabia, has been handed a further prison sentence over his tweets by Kuwait’s Criminal Court. The 24-year-old was handed extra five years with hard labor for using his Twitter account to spread “false and malicious rumors” about Kuwait, according to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR). He fled to the UK last year from Qatar – where he was studying – after he was warned of his imminent arrest back home and feared that Doha might hand him over to Kuwaiti authorities. Days later, he was sentenced in absentia to five years in jail with hard labour for insulting Saudi Arabia and spreading false news purportedly over tweets about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

A survey conducted by the Institute for Social and Media Studies on the confidence of Moroccan youth showed mixed assessments among youth about the Moroccan state’s seriousness in the fight against corruption. The results show that 45.5% of youth indicated that the state is working to combat corruption, but inadequately, reflecting their perception of efforts being made but not enough to fully address this problem. On the other hand, 50.5% of young people believe that the state is not working hard in the fight against corruption, which means that they feel there are insufficient efforts or problems accumulating in this aspect.

The Lebanese Minister of Information of the Caretaker Government, Ziad al-Makari, considered that “youth migration is the biggest problem in the country. Unfortunately, our official institutions no longer have a youth component due to the prohibition of employment following a Council of Ministers decision. The public sector is ageing and can no longer sacrifice because it is tired.”

Economics and Entrepreneurship

Tunisia’s National Statistical Institute (INE) announced that unemployment rose to over 16% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 15.2% in the same period last year. The Institute’s data revealed that the number of unemployed in the first quarter of this year was estimated at more than 650 thousand, compared with some 624 thousand last year, an increase of about 31 thousand. The Institute’s report added that unemployment among holders of higher degrees currently stands at 23%, including 15% among males and more than 29% among females. These figures coincide with a decline in growth to 2.1% during the first three months of this year, compared with 2.4% in the same period in 2022, and 4.3% in the same period in 2021.

Iraq announced a multi-billion dollar road and rail project stretching from its southern shores to the northern border with Turkey. The planned route will begin at al-Faw port and pass through 10 provinces on its way to the Fishkhabur border crossing with Turkey. The route will connect Iraq to the European Union through Turkey and there is no plan to build railroad connections to other neighboring countries for at least 10 years. The project is expected to be an economic boost to the provinces it passes through and will create over 100,000 jobs for Iraqi youth.

The unveiling of the first Moroccan-made car is an important step to strengthen the label of “Made in Morocco” and supports Morocco as an important player in the production of cars globally. The project’s total investment is expected to be MAD 156 million, with the potential to create 580 jobs for young people.

Orange Jordan’s CEO said that the Jordanian information and communication technology (ICT) sector is a key factor in achieving social and economic development and attracting more investments. The CEO also said that Orange is working to empower people and startups, especially women, people with disabilities, and youth, adding that a strategy was designed to address the challenges of unemployment and the digital divide, focusing on empowerment and promoting innovation through digital education, training and entrepreneurship support. Orange runs the Coding Academy, which has provided Jordanian youth with training for employment opportunities, as about 80% of its graduates are employed.

An EU delegation visited the Sandbox Business Incubator in Aden, Yemen, to learn about its efforts in supporting young entrepreneurs in the city and develop their current and future ventures. The delegation learned about the incubator’s mechanisms, and they participated in a roundtable discussion with five young people from Aden, mostly entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of the 12-month “Start” project funded by the Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by French non-profit organization Super Novet with its partner in Aden, Mithalla Institution. Sandbox recently launched its first three-month youth and youth entrepreneurship camp in Aden, which aims to support the professional integration of Yemeni youth in Aden by providing training and supporting entrepreneurship.

Deloitte’s AI Institute was officially launched at the Experience Analytics conference in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. The institute is set to create business solutions that use generative AI and machine learning, similar to the technology used in the ChatGPT language tool. It will focus on unique propositions for the Saudi and wider Middle East markets. The AI Institute will also nurture talent and create opportunities for Saudi youth interested in pursuing careers in the field of artificial intelligence. Deloitte plans to collaborate with major universities in Saudi to provide a platform for students to gain skills in the industry.

Injaz Qatar held its awards ceremony to mark the conclusion of Mubadara 2023, the Annual Young Enterprise of the Year Competition. Twelve university teams and six high school teams participated in the six-month-long Mubadara program, which offers students the opportunity to conceptualize, establish, and run their own startups with the guidance of professionals from leading businesses across Qatar. The team “Khatwa” won the Best Company Award among universities, which received QR 35,000 as seed funding from Boeing, the strategic partner of Injaz Qatar since 2009, in addition to the ongoing support and incubation award presented by the Qatar Business Incubation Center.

Injaz Kuwait Association launched an important program that efficiently links entrepreneurship with school curricula, with the aim of enabling and encouraging young people to achieve their aspirations for a better economy. The Executive Director of the Association said that “it organized its program, which includes its annual competition with the participation, for aspiring youth groups who presented their ideas and future projects to a committee, representing senior managers of private companies in Kuwait, leveraging their vast expertise.” The director added that “the program is one of Injaz’s training efforts for youth to equip them to run their own projects and companies.” It is worth noting that the project also builds youth’s capacities in terms of market analysis, problem solving skills, and critical thinking.

African Development Bank organized a panel discussion titled “The role of fintech in promoting sustainability and green finance.” Rasha Najem, assistant governor of the Central Bank for Fintech and Innovation, said that there are currently about 177 projects in this sector, compared to only 3 in 2012, 60% of which is run by young people aged 16-25.

Conflict

Middle East Monitor reported that the Israeli occupation forces detained a 24-year-old female Palestinian, after she was summoned for an interview. Her detention increased the number of female Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons to 34. According to Palestine Prisoners Study Centre, female Palestinian prisoners receive harsh treatment in Israeli prisons. Since 1967, the Israeli occupation has detained more than 17,000 female Palestinians. The Director of Palestine Prisoners Study Center, former prisoner Riyad Al-Ashqar, confirmed that 8 female prisoners were sentenced to more than 10 years, including a 16-year-old. Several others face severe medical conditions, including one who was detained and put in prison immediately after being wounded by live bullets.

Three young Palestinians were wounded by the Israeli occupation forces that had stormed the city and camp in Jenin. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that three Palestinians had been shot, one of them in the abdomen, and had been admitted to operations at Jenin Public Hospital. The occupying forces had broken into the city’s target area and surrounded a house before arresting a young Palestinian.

The Israeli occupation forces launched a large-scale arrests campaign in the town of Sandala, breaking into dozens of houses, tampering with their contents, and subjecting their residents to field investigations. The occupation forces stormed the town, raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested several residents for investigation by the security services. Preliminary information showed that the vast majority of the detainees were young friends of martyr Diyar al-Omari. According to available information, the Israeli police arrested 10 youths from the town, where these arrests were made against the backdrop of mobility and protests in the town following the killing of 20-year-old Diyar al-Omari. The Israeli Occupation forces stormed the Balata camp in Nablus and arrested two young men in armed clashes. They also stormed the town of Qabatiyeh, south of Jenin, and arrested a young man, according to local sources. The occupation army had mobilized large forces around the Balata camp before its incursion, which prevented worshippers from exiting Abad Rahman Mosque after dawn prayers. The occupying forces fired gas bombs at citizens’ homes as they stormed the camp.

Development

Sudanese youth have reopened a medical centre in the state of Southern Darfur with self-help and voluntary efforts, trying through this initiative to cover the needs of patients in all neighboring areas. One of the initiative’s youth said, “We receive 200-300 patients every day.” A large number of hospitals have closed, and some health centers are opening with vigilante initiatives due to the growing need for medical services. The young Sudanese reported that the medical staff at the center are volunteers, and that they are also trying to provide the medicine free of charge despite the scarcity of medicines. The Sudan Doctors’ Union said 62 hospitals out of a total of 86 were closed, while the World Health Organization reported that more than 60% of health facilities in Khartoum were closed and only 16% were operating at their normal capacity.

Virtual and augmented reality have become quite popular, especially with rapid technological development. Palestinian youth Hamza Siraj launched his project “Memories from Palestine” that enables individuals to virtually roam and wander around Palestine, including the West Bank and the occupied territories. Through this technology, Hamza hopes that Palestinians abroad, who are unable to visit, will be able to see their country, its villages, and archaeological areas, and get in touch with their identity.

The Basma Youth Foundation in Dara’a – Syria, announced the launch of the primary legal response program, in cooperation with the Syrian Secretariat for Development and in partnership with UNHCR. The Director of the foundation’s Office in Dara’a stated that the program features legal awareness-raising sessions on family, women, and children’s rights along with the provision of legal consultations and legal support in issuing personal and family identification documents for the first time free of charge.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, announced the launch of the “Updated Document for Population Policies” in Iraq, while stressing the importance of adopting serious development policies, based on economic, educational, and rehabilitation plans, to fulfill the potential of young people, to ensure that the demographic endowment does not become a curse, as experts and specialists warn. Al-Sudani explained that “the updated national document has paid great attention to the empowerment of young people,” stressing that “Iraqi society is still young and enjoys a demographic gift, which provides a real opportunity for a significant improvement in the joints of sustainable development.” It is worth noting that the document features 11 thematic areas, including education, health, empowerment, care for vulnerable groups, migration, and community cohesion, among others.

The Mafraq Young Women’s Center (Jordan) organized a symposium on protecting youth from the scourge of drugs, as part of the Mafraq Youth Directorate’s efforts to hold awareness seminars on the dangers of drugs and its negative effects on society. The symposium focused on counter-narcotics approaches, introduced the treatment resources and centers, and held an awareness roadshow.

The Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the National Institute for Governance and Development organized a training workshop for youth, training them on developing policy papers. The workshop targeted young Egyptians participating in student competitions at the Youth for Development Initiative at the Policy Paper Hub. It featured extensive discussions on public policies and how to draft policy papers and write their summaries. This workshop is part of a series organized by the Youth for Development Initiative for students participating in research competitions.

The African Union’s Youth Envoy, Chido Cleopatra Mbemba, welcomed the revitalization of Libya’s participation in African Union youth-related programs. During her meeting with the Libyan Youth Minister, the two parties reaffirmed their support for reviewing some provisions of the African Youth Charter, developing African youth institutions and coordinating their work under the umbrella of the AU Commission. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister extended an invitation to the Youth Envoy to visit Libya at the International Youth Day celebrations for Libyan youth and to learn about the development achievements of the Ministry’s youth sector under the Government of National Unity over the past two years.

Education

UNICEF has been supporting Jordanian youth as well as young refugees in Jordan with informal education through its Makani Centers. The centers and their curriculum can be adapted to different age groups, physical settings, available resources and the demographics of those attending. Though the resources and staff available in Makanis vary, they share a common thread: Children in each are actively engaged in their learning. The children have somewhere safe to go when not in school — children are only able to attend school for half days in Jordan, due to double-shift school scheduling. Makan Centers have caring teachers and facilitators trained to identify children who might be facing particular challenges and help connect them with additional services. This reality motivates each of them to gain both technical skills — digital literacy, entrepreneurship and vocational skills — and life skills to help them thrive in any future workplace or classroom. UNICEF works with the Government of Jordan to weave together technical and transferrable skills development programs, leveraging available resources including cutting-edge maker spaces to promote young people’s active engagement and creative thinking. 

Engineering, psychology, and nursing are the three most appealing university majors for Kuwaiti youth, according to data collected by Potomac University on the university disciplines most searched for. Psychology was found to be particularly popular in the Gulf States, especially in the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. The data that covers 181 disciplines or degrees showed that nursing is the most common choice worldwide, followed by business administration and law.

Environment

The Aden Youth Center (AYC) organized a workshop titled “Green Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals“, attended by government officials, academics, civil society organizations, and activists. The workshop discussed a number of aspects, including the impact of climate change in the context of conflicts and specifically in Aden, the repercussions of political attractions on different underdeveloped sectors, the space for youth when it comes to climate action, policies to reduce the negative impacts and repercussions of climate change, and the role of CSOs in raising awareness of the risks of climate change. The participants recommended the need for a national strategic plan to address climate change for the most affected sectors, namely water, agriculture, and energy. They also highlighted the importance of assessing the impact of climate change across all relevant sectors, stressing the need to prepare national projects that mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases and respond to climate change. They noted the need for a proactive contingency plan to avert climate change crises and to develop durable solutions before natural disasters occur.

NEOM held the second Tabuk Forum under the title of “The future of Human and place”, during which NEOM and its sectors illustrated the different programs that this mega project looks to achieve. During the Forum, NEOM highlighted that it will establish a preserve in Al-Asilah area in an effort to preserve and celebrate the area’s sea, wild, and coastal environment, particularly that the area is home to the Arabian oryx, the Arabian sand gazelle (known as reem), the mountain gazelle, the ibex, and the ostrich. This initiative comes under NEOM’s social responsibility efforts, as it is expected to create a positive developmental, social, economic impact on the families and their regions through supporting talented youth and entrepreneurs.

A national hygiene campaign was launched in Amman – Jordan, under the slogan “With our Hands We protect our Environment“. Organized by the Capital Youth Directorate, members of various youth centers in Amman engaged in this campaign that aimed to strengthen youth’s role in preserving the environment and promoting environmental culture along with positive practices towards the environment, such as reduce random waste and raising awareness of the importance of voluntary work and the values of community cooperation.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 110

May 7, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

Approximately 5 million Turkish youths participate for the first time in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14. They are expected to have a major say in these elections, as they account for about 7.5% of the total number of voters. Experts believe that Turkey’s Generation Z is completely different from previous generations due to their technological savviness. A report by Turkpress indicates that Turkish oppositions view this generation as pervasive for the Government and has broad imagination and welfare requirements that the Government is unable to meet, while in the Government’s view they are a conscious and aware generation of Turkey’s progress in several fields, most notably defense and space industries. The new generation of voters has gained an important place in candidates’ programs. President Erdogan and his most prominent rival, opposition leader Kamal Kaljdaroglu, have long sought to engage youth, through multiple methods that reflect their interests, at a time when Erdogan refuses to name this generation as Generation Z, calling them the “Technovist” generation, a space and aviation festival organized by Turkey for several years. The polemics of Turkey’s young generation and new voters stem from the fact that most of them were born during the height of the Justice and Development Party’s reign, and they have not experienced political crises and coalition governments, leading them to wanting change. A Turkish journalist considered that “half or more of all young people may vote for the AKP, especially after Erdogan promised young people loans for those who are due to marry, grants for students, university housing insurance, and others,” stressing that Erdogan “still enjoys public confidence to deliver on his promises, despite the difficult economic crises in Turkey. Kuljdaroglu is not tried or testing by this generation, but he has lately made promises that he may or may not achieve, but he might win the confidence and the opportunity to be tested by the younger generation.”

Former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, who is currently imprisoned, called on Turkish youth to actively campaign ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey. Demirtas urged young people to encourage voters in person, not on social media, where they “won’t be able to change a single person’s opinion.” Demirtas wrote in a tweet. “Come on guys, let’s finish it in the first round.” Demirtas’ party, HDP, had previously endorsed opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is running to unseat Erdogan. Kilicdaroglu is considered Erdogan’s toughest challenger in two decades, and he leads in most polls conducted inside Turkey and is considered the favorite amongst the younger generation.

Mukhtar Khawaja wrote for Aljazeera discussing Sudanese youth amidst the ongoing conflict. Khawaja raises a central question regarding youth’s vision of Sudan in light of the current crisis. He affirms that they want a civilian state whose power is not monopolized by an elite or a group, which respects the rights of all citizens to peaceful and disciplined expression of public values in the expression of private cultures; gradually moving towards federalism through a quasi-federal rule, the territories’ budgets allow for the restoration of affordability of federal governance, while also maintaining traditional religious and social institutions, developing their mechanisms, and preserving ethical and societal values with balanced economic development.

Economics and Entrepreneurship

A new report published by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the European Training Foundation (ETF) has issued an urgent call to MENA countries to invest in education and modernizing training systems for youth. The report, titled, “Enabling Success: Supporting Youth in MENA in their Transition from Learning to Decent Work,” calls for developing and implementing market relevant skills training and job creation strategies targeting youth in the region, which has the highest rate of youth unemployment in the world. Data shows that young people are still three times more likely than older workers to be unemployed. Focusing on the need for enhanced labor market information systems to support decision making, the report presents a number of recommendations for priority reforms and actions. This includes calls for lifelong learning centered Education reforms, improved links between TVET and the labor market, and an increased engagement of the private sector in identifying and delivering skills.

Alghad newspaper published a report discussing how Jordanian startups reached successful heights. The report indicates that there are a number of reasons for achieving what some see as “impossible”, perhaps the most important of which is “the uniqueness of the idea” and “its relevance to all markets”. Experts stressed that successful entrepreneurial work hinges on ensuring that an idea is expandable and conducive to growth, focusing on modern sectors and technical trends that are in high demand worldwide, such as artificial intelligence. Official figures show that 2021 saw a rise in investment in start-ups in Jordan, reaching JOD 120 million – up from JOD 20 million in 2020. Chairman of Oasis 500 indicated that “if a startup is built on a unique idea or an intellectual property invention, its success chances will be high. The entrepreneur should always answer a key question: how can I expand beyond Jordan? The entrepreneur should always consider a high “competitive advantage” at the heart of the technical solution, the service or the product he offers, or the way it is offered.” He also stressed that the success of Jordanian startups should always be highlighted and marketed optimally to motivate more young Jordanians to seek the entrepreneurship path.

Conflict

According to local sources, a young man from the town of Beit Furik in Nablus, and another from Jericho, were shot by Israeli occupation forces, one with live bullets and one with shrapnel, after which they were taken to the hospital. Dozens of Palestinians were injured and suffocated by tear gas over the weekend, as Israeli military dispersed rallies against settlements in the West Bank. Demonstrators denounced Israeli settlement and human rights violations. The coordinator of the “People’s Resistance Committees” in Kafr Qaddoum said that 5 young men were shot with metal bullets during the Israeli occupation army’s suppression of the weekly anti-settlement march in the town. He noted that dozens of demonstrators had suffered asphyxiation as a result of tear gas inhalation. In turn, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated in a statement that its crews had dealt with dozens of suffocation injuries caused by tear gas inhalation in Beit Djan and Beta in Nablus governorate. 

The Israeli occupation forces carried out another campaign of raids and arrests in various areas of the West Bank, which saw the arrest of a number of Palestinians, while injuries were reported in Jericho and Hebron. The Prisoners’ Club reported that the occupation forces had arrested 13 Palestinians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, on the pretext of participating in popular resistance. The occupation rearrested Legislative Council member Azam Silhab and three of his sons after breaking into their homes in Hebron. Further, two young Palestinians were wounded by the occupation forces after they stormed the Ain al-Sultan camp in western Jericho.

The Houthis have begun their annual summer camps in the regions they control in Yemen, urging parents to allow their children to travel to the locations for the camps. It is believed that the camps brainwash and enlist Yemeni youth into the Iran-backed group. Children as young as 10 have been standing in lines to receive instruction in religious teachings and identity from Houthis. The movement says it intends to attract more than 1 million to its camps. Yemeni journalists, activists, and human rights groups have expressed outrage at the calls to join the camps, arguing that the Houthis use them to indoctrinate children and provide them with military training prior to fighting government forces. Abdullah Al-Monaifi, a Yemeni journalist, said that the Houthi summer programs indoctrinated children with radical ideologies, and that the camps were a menace to families and communities.

Terrorist and extremist groups have been finding new ways to disseminate their propaganda, placing young people at a particular risk. While technology companies such as Google are making efforts to remove terrorism-related material from their platforms such as YouTube, terrorist groups continue to appear online, through encrypted forums and video games. One way authorities have responded to this threat is through new laws to address online harms, which means social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok can be ordered to delete such content. The public also has to play a role in staying vigilant about young people falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

Development

During a meeting with the Central Committee for Local Councils Elections and Local Democratically Elected Youth Councils, the outgoing Libyan Minister of Youth, Fathalla Al-Zani, discussed the need to complete the “third jump” to qualify young people capable of leading the country towards stability and to protect them from attractions that negatively affect their future. Al-Zani added that the ministry worked at full capacity and with minimal means during the year to implement the initiative to establish local youth councils across Libya, noting the obstacles and challenges faced.

Egyptian Parliamentarian and Rapporteur of the National Dialogue Youth Committee said that he visited 108 universities to listen to students’ needs of and recommendations for the National Dialogue Youth Committee. He said that youth’s needs included supporting the Students’ Union, supporting persons with disabilities, addressing the issue of unemployment, and supporting entrepreneurship. He explained that the Youth Committee has worked over the past months to hear what the youth of universities, schools, and clubs need from the national dialogue. He pointed out that “Young people also talk about political and community empowerment, which will happen only through the training and qualification of a community or political leader through student associations.”

Education

The Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research emphasized that the Digital Innovation Centers of Egyptian Universities is an innovative solution to address the root causes of youth unemployment, through practical and realistic methods that integrate the various vital business growth services into one place. Youth have easy access to these services, whether they seek to develop their business plans or have businesses that they struggle to maintain or start. The minister noted that these digital creative centers reflect the important role of the university in encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship among youth, adding that these centers have great potential to support and assist students, small and medium enterprises, and emerging businesses to become key actors for digital transformation in various sectors of industry. 

Environment

The Conference of the Parties Presidency and Youth Climate Pioneer teams organized a series of events with more than 200 young people around the world on the sidelines of the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Youth Forum in New York. To provide adequate space for young people to express their views, the teams organized a 30-participant consultation in collaboration with the official UNFCCC Children and Youth Service Foundation “YOUNGO”. During the workshop, young people discussed opportunities and challenges during the preparation of the COP28 Summit and expressed their gratitude for the role of youth climate leader in the presidency of the conference to oversee youth participation and develop their skills to ensure constructive participation. The Presidency of the COP28 launched the “International Youth Climate Delegates Programme” as part of the “Road to COP28” event held in Expo Dubai on 15 March 2023 to enable young people to participate effectively in the conference process.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 109

April 30, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

A report by the National News highlights that Iraqi youth face numerous challenges, yet they are looking forward to a better future for their country, two decades after the previous regime change. Many of them have witnessed horrific events, and they participated in protests and remained steadfast in their quest for change. The report added, “being frustrated in their country, thousands of young Iraqis joined in the 2019 protests, the largest in the country since 2003. Their demands were not only to provide better jobs and public services and put an end to the widespread corruption in the country, but also to the exclusion of corrupt political elites that control the country’s capabilities.” The report stressed, “Coming out of the years of war and instability, the next 20 years are viewed with optimism and are full of opportunities despite the challenges.” The report also cites HRW, which stated, in a statement on the twentieth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, that innocent Iraqis were the victims of a dictatorship, yet they paid and continue to pay for that war. Nearly half a million people have lost their lives, along with the displacement of millions and countless civilians who have suffered the scourge of war.

More than half of Turkey’s eligible voters are millennials or younger, giving the opposition a chance to unseat President Erdogan after 20 years in power. However, millions of Gen Z Turks are eligible to vote for the first time, and their orientations are not entirely clear ahead of the May 14 elections. Turkey’s Gezi Park generation, an apolitical and politically apathetic group who have grown weary of politics and have little to no belief they live in a functioning democracy. They also appear to lack a voice or be included in any candidate’s political platform, including that of Erdogan or his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

The Coordination’s Committee of Party’s Youth Leaders and Politicians (CPYP) held a political salon titled “CPYP and The National Dialogue.. Participation and Political Focus”, as part of its events on the agenda of the national dialogue, which is planned to begin soon. The session discussed the expectations of the CPYP members for the national dialogue along with aspects related to human rights, civil society, the development of trade union work, the institutionalization of the presidential pardoning, the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Commission, and the reform and activation of the role of political parties.

Economics and Entrepreneurship

Spectator Index reported that Qatar now has one of the lowest unemployment records in the world. According to World Bank data, Qatar’s unemployment rate has been on the decline throughout the past three decades, with 0.17% in 2021. Qatar’s youth unemployment is also among the lowest recorded for the MENA region. Qatar’s youth unemployment rates were found to be lower than the world average, due to the country’s “capacity to absorb young nationals into public sector jobs.”

Dr. Mohammed Jalal, Director of the Entrepreneurship Club, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Al-Azhar University, said that young Egyptians who have project ideas but do not have the funding can turn immediately to ministries of planning, youth and sports, communications, and higher education, as they can support young entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into real projects by providing financial and technical support in the form of grants.

The Egyptian Minister of Labor Force highlighted that the Ministry has taken steps that have contributed to the reduction of unemployment rates over the past year, including creating 24,196 job opportunities to young people in different disciplines. The ministry has also been cooperating closely with business owners and investors to increase job opportunities offered along with practical training opportunities, including for persons with disabilities.

Conflict

The Israeli occupation forces killed a young Palestinian during a raid on Aqabat Jabr camp in Jericho in the West Bank. In a press release, the governor of Jericho announced that “the young man was shot dead by the occupation, as it stormed the Aqaba Jabr camp,” adding that his body is being held by the occupation forces. It is also worth noting that three others were also injured and one was arrested during the raid, in which the occupation forces fired live bullets, rubber, gas, and sound bombs.

The Israeli occupation forces executed a young Palestinian man in cold blood after shooting him during confrontations in Aqaba Jabr camp in Jericho governorate. The young man, 17 years old, was martyred after the occupying forces blocked his ambulance, left him bleeding on the ground until he was martyred, as 6 other people were injured. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the young man’s death after he was fatally shot in the head. In a statement, the Ministry of Health indicated that three of the six injured people were in serious condition. The Palestinian News and Information Agency reported that large Israeli army forces stormed the camp and surrounded a number of citizens’ homes, leading to confrontations.

An Israeli military analyst was quoted saying “The most important matter that Israel is facing recently comes through the Palestinian arena, a matter we have not seen in 15 years, and it is characterized by the willingness of dozens or hundreds of young men to leave their homes to confront the army forces.” He added that “technical algorithms linked to smart information collection systems should be used to identify those who express hatred to Israel on social media.”

Development

Sudanese youth launched a humanitarian initiative in the city of Shandi in the Nile River State to welcome displaced persons due to the ongoing clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum. The initiative’s youth set up tents near the public transport parking lot to take in displaced persons once they arrived in the city, as some tents serve hot food for those arriving. A young coordinator said that such an initiative of this magnitude with such a voluntary grassroots effort was cause for pride. 

Education

During an event at the UN headquarters in New York, young Arab men and women discussed youth participation in public life, employment, and education, along with opportunities for empowerment. One of the key themes of the Youth Forum for the Arab States Region, which was organized by the UN Economic and Social Council, was the transition from “Learning to Earning,” which included discussions of educational opportunities, the state of the job market, and other factors that can affect a young person’s progression from education to employment. The event also gave young Arabs a chance to share their stories and projects, showcase their achievements, and discuss ways in which they can help to empower other young people from the region through their experiences of education, employment and volunteering. 

Environment

The National News reported that the return of the Saudi-Iranian diplomatic relation brings more hope for climate cooperation, especially that GCC states along with Iraq and Iran have long been alert to dust storms, rising temperatures, and water scarcity. The article adds that an increased cooperation can offer huge opportunities for job creation in the climate and energy sphere by tapping into Iran’s tech-savvy youth.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 108

April 23, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

Ahead of the Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections, to be held on May 14, the Social, Economic and Political Research Foundation of Turkey held a meeting focusing on the situation of Turkish youth. Young people from political parties, NGOs, and researchers participated in the meeting, and the results of a research conducted by Public Opinion Research were discussed concerning young voters who would vote for the first time in their lives. According to the report, young people who will vote for the first time are less satisfied with their lives, compared to the rest of Turkey’s population. The report also revealed that 49% of Turkey’s population wanted their country to be like European countries. The study also divided lifestyles into three types: modern, generally conservative, and religiously conservative, showing that 33% of Turkey’s population finds themselves close to the modern lifestyle, compared to 57% among first time voters. When asked “Do you see yourself from the right or left stream?”, 35% of Turks see themselves on the left, compared to 45% among first time voters. 

Economics and Entrepreneurship

Zawya reported that 11 MENA startups were selected to join Village Capital’s Financial Solutions for Migrants program, an accelerator for impact-driven startups developing financial inclusion solutions for migrants. The program will work with the startups to further develop and refine their products and solutions to fit the needs of different migrant communities including migrant women and refugees. It will provide a combination of intensive in-person and virtual investment readiness training, and connect the 11 startups with Village Capital’s wider investor and mentor community. It is also worth noting that 54% of the cohort selected have one or more female founders.

The “Sawa Shabab” program on Radio Sawa addressed, in its weekly episode, the reality and challenges of innovation among young people in the Arab region. It is reported that Arab youth are making valuable contributions, particularly in the area of technology. However, challenges remain that need to be addressed to effectively harness the potential of Arab youth and technological innovation. The most significant challenges facing young people are lack of access to finance and social welfare.

Conflict

A Palestinian youth was found dead in Nazareth after being shot near the town of Ixal, hours after the murder of another young man, bringing the death toll to 48 among the Arab community. Youth in Arab society are becoming victims to the serious rise in violence and crime, while the police are failing to do their job to eradicate homicide and violence. Since the beginning of 2023, the number of victims of murders in Arab society has risen to 48. During 2022, the death toll was 109, including 12 women; and, in 2021, more than 111 homicides were documented in an unprecedented record tally.

The Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of raids and incursions in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and they arrested of a number of young Palestinians. According to the prisoner’s club, 7 Palestinian youth were arrested during a campaign of raid and arrest in several areas of the bank and Jerusalem, on the pretext of involvement in armed resistance. Further, the occupation forces arrested a parent of a young Palestinian to put pressure on his son to surrender himself. Local Palestinian sources reported that the occupation army had broken into other areas of the West Bank and carried out raids, while heavy gunfire had been fired in several areas.

Moroccan specialists warned of the rise in the prevalence of the drug “pufa” or “crack”, also called “the cocaine of the poor”, considering it “the most dangerous new drug in the market“. In this context, the President of the National Anti-Smoking and Drug Assembly, said that the drug was “produced and promoted by some sub-Saharan migrant persons, with a cost ranging from 50 to 60 dirhams per gram,” adding that “addiction to this drug is widely and strangely known among youth in educational and formative institutions.” He also attributed this rise to the “policy of escapism,” warning that the continuity of this policy will only lead to an increase in drug use among Moroccan youth.  

Development

False information, rumors and unreliable sources abound these days and young people are particularly susceptible to targeted disinformation. Often unaware of the dangers, they unknowingly share fake news with others. In the Palestinian territories and Jordan, DW Akademie and its local partners have been working with youth, helping them develop creative approaches to inform peers about risks of the digital world. As part of the “MIL goes viral” project, they produced interactive apps that use different approaches to teach young users how to tackle false information and rumors. Hazem Ayasrah, a young Jordanian participant, said: “There is a big problem with fake news and disinformation in Jordan, and it is getting worse. We needed a solution, and the project involves us young people in creating something interactive that motivates people to participate and learn how to distinguish reliable from false information.” As part of the training, young participants learned how to write news and were also introduced to message verification. While researching, they found that particularly local media outlets based their news on false or unreliable sources. Realizing this, the topic became more tangible for the participants as well as more urgent. Hazem and his group decided to create a simple but dynamic game concept that would show players how to distinguish fake from trustworthy information, in which players need to learn these skills so they can use them in their daily lives, whether they’re using social media or just reading a newspaper. 

The Youth Directorate of the Capital Governorate, in Jordan, held a seminar on “Digital Media” attended by 20 young participants. The seminar’s moderator spoke about the importance of digital media, the importance of news formulation through social media, and media’s commitment to code of ethical and professional conduct in news reporting. A representative of the Directorate of Public Security spoke about the importance of digital media in achieving community peace, the role of social media in shaping public opinion, and the role of young people in transmitting information and news from social media in a way that reflects their awareness in preserving communities.

In Bahrain, the second edition of the Youth Empowerment Centers Forum was held last week, titled “Empowering young people between reality and the future”, and organized by the Stone Youth Empowerment Center. The Forum aimed to maximize the role of youth empowerment centers by discovering, refining, and highlighting youth talent in various fields, along with finding the means to enhance the operations of these centers and address the challenges they face. These empowerment centers are a distinct incubator for young people, as they offer a package of programs that seek to enhance youth’s skills in various fields.

Education

Abdelaziz Al-Ghurair, founder of the Abdelaziz Al-Ghurair Refugee Education Fund, stressed that Fund, established in 2018, sought to provide assistance to 20 thousand young people in a period of up to 3 years, noting that the goal was exceeded and reached 62 thousand young people. Al-Ghurair added, “We intend to focus on refining the skills of young Arab refugees and enhancing their access to secondary education in Jordan and Lebanon. We also aim to give refugee and marginalized youth access to vocational training courses approved in the competencies required in the labor market, thereby contributing to job creation and raising the standard of living.” It is worth noting that the fund had partnered with 20 institutions with shared visions and collaborated to achieve common goals in providing the necessary sustainable support to young refugees.

Environment

The World Bank approved two new projects to help scale-up support to climate responsive public and private investments to promote job creation and business opportunities for women and help improve the efficiency of Jordan’s electricity sector, with an emphasis on strengthening sector governance. The two projects will support the implementation of Jordan’s 10-year Economic Modernization Vision, which promotes sustainability as one of its main pillars and aims to position Jordan as a regional hub for green entrepreneurship and innovation and to attract investment. 

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) launched the “DEWA Youth Sustainability Ambassadors” Program, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge Sustainability Leadership Institute. The program featured three workshops and will have a closing session in September. DEWA noted that the first workshop was attended by 20 young staff from different sectors of the Authority, who learned about various aspects of sustainability and acquired skills in innovation and effective communication, enabling them to be effective ambassadors for sustainability, to contribute to the realization of the Authority’s vision as a global sustainability leader, committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, Razan Al Mubarak, and COP28 Director-General and Special Representative, Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, traveled to the United Nations Headquarters to engage with stakeholders on the sidelines of the 22nd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). Al Mubarak emphasized the importance of leveraging the knowledge and values of indigenous peoples for achieving sustainable development and protecting biodiversity and encouraged their full engagement in the development of policies related to climate change. Both members of the COP28 leadership team reiterated the UAE’s commitment to closer collaboration with indigenous communities in driving solutions to the climate crisis. The Forum on Indigenous Issues is the central UN body dedicated to the concerns and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples.

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MENARY Monitor – Edition 107

April 16, 2023

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Politics and Political Engagement

The Palestinian Authority continued its targeted arrests of Palestinian youth, arresting three students from Hebron University over the past week. The political arrests campaign continue, despite calls for its cessation and the release of detainees during Ramadan, according to the statement of the Committee of the Families of Political Detainees. Despite that, the Palestinian Authority has arrested around 20 Palestinian students from various universities under various arbitrary charges, most of whom remain in detention facilities for several weeks without a trial.

Police in Iran said they have implemented a plan to deal with women who violate the country’s dress code, as the number of women defying the dress code that headscarves must be worn in public has increased since a protest movement following the murder of Mahsa Amini. A statement on the police website said action would be taken over violations in public places, in cars and other sites where hijab is sometimes removed. The statement added that “technology will be used for the smart identification of people who break the law. Removing hijab is considered a crime, and the police deal with social anomalies within the framework of the law.” 

Economics and Entrepreneurship

A recent study conducted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) finds that digital labor platforms (DLPs) can help alleviate unemployment among vulnerable groups in Jordan by providing them with access to short-term, remote work opportunities. The study examines the differences in working conditions between platform-based and traditional work in the fields of translation and writing as well as creative and multimedia activities. The study stated that platform workers tend to be younger than their counterparts in traditional forms of employment, which are marked by more variability in age. It also showed that platform workers were, on average, more educated than traditional workers. However, they tend to be paid less than traditionally employed individuals. 

The Directorate of Parliament and Civil Education in Damietta, Egypt, implemented a number of workshops under the National Awareness Building Forum, titled “Youth conscious towards future leadership.” The workshops aimed to support 100 young Egyptians to be able to contribute to the Egyptian economy. The initiative’s workshops aim to motivate young people to discuss the most important societal issues surrounding it and gathering their views around them with a view to finding solutions through constructive democratic dialogue and raising youth’s awareness of the most important issues facing society, along with raising their awareness of the importance of their participation in the implementation of the state’s development initiatives.

The Qena Governorate Population concluded a training workshop of 300 young men and women from various youth centers, as part of the “Start Your Success, Achieve Your Dream” initiative to qualify young people for the labor market and to create jobs in dignified villages. The initiative will provide training aimed at spreading the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, training employers to develop their enterprises, as well as supporting SMEs and providing them with the necessary expertise in their work. The initiative also aims to train and qualify 5,000 young people in the initial phase during 2023, as well as enable young people to improve their performance in the market by offering them some benefits through the Bank of Egypt, including special offers on their financial services targeting entrepreneurs.

Conflict

The Israeli occupation forces attacked and wounded a young man near the “Kiryat Raba” settlement in Hebron. Palestinian activists deliberated on the news that the occupying forces had shot a young Palestinian. The young man was also arrested by occupation forces after being severely beaten with the participation of settlers.

Two young Palestinians were shot dead by the Israeli occupation army during a raid in Nablus. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, medical staff on the ground also transferred a Palestinian youth who was shot in the shoulder to the Rafidia Surgical Hospital. The killings come after the recent killing of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier.

The Israeli occupation forces killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in a raid on a West Bank camp, amid wider clashes during a settler march and a mass intrusion into the grounds of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinian medical sources said that the young boy was killed as Israeli forces stormed the Aqabat Jaber near Jericho in the West Bank. The young boy was hit with three bullets to the head, abdomen, and pelvis during the clashes. Two other civilians suffered bullet wounds to their lower bodies and five other civilians were arrested. The Israeli occupation army has killed 96 Palestinians in the West Bank this year, seven of whom were from Jericho. More than 100 Palestinians have been arrested in that time.

A deadly landmine explosion in Syria killed at least six people who were foraging for truffles in the countryside in the Deir Ez-Zor area, a former stronghold of Daesh. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, put the number killed at nine, adding that this incident brings the number of civilians reported killed this year as a result of the explosion of mines and other explosive objects left over from the war to 139, including 30 children.

Development

The Jerash Youth Directorate, Jordan, organized a seminar titled “Dialogue and Tolerance against Violence and Extremism” attended by 100 young people. The aim of this seminar was to raise youth’s awareness and create positive values and trends, especially as youth, security and community peace are a key focus of the National Youth Strategy, through which projects are emerging to strengthen the role of young people in achieving security and peace and rejecting of violence and extremism. The seminar emphasized the importance of rational dialogue to deter violence and extremism.

The Egyptian-German Centre for Employment, Migration, and Reintegration organized free training courses for young people in all governorates, especially those most exporting of illegal migrants, in order to provide safe alternatives for young people, within the framework of the action plan of the Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Affairs Abroad, to combat the issue of illegal emigration.

Education

The Arab Youth Researchers Council announced two new partnerships with the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils and the Emirates Research Center, with the aim of cooperating in empowering young researchers and supporting them in transforming research ideas into promising projects that encourage investments to reflect positively on economic, social, and human development paths. Partnerships were signed to consolidate their mutual efforts to strengthen the role of Arab youth in theoretical and applied scientific research. The areas for cooperation include the implementation of joint scientific activities, organizing specialized forums to exchange ideas and successful practices for young researchers, providing technical services in the field of studies, research, and reports, evaluating research projects to achieve the goals of sustainable development in the Arab States, and using modern information technologies to benefit young researchers in the Arab world. The two sides will also cooperate in an annual honorary award for applied scientific research.

The Palestinian Al-Tahrir Political Party is implementing an extensive campaign against the CEDAW Convention and the Children’s Rights Act. The party organized visits to the Directorate of Education, schools and the municipality of Nuseirat in the central region. They highlighted the gravity of the Children’s Rights Act and the Convention on which it was based, “from pitting the student against their parents and teachers, treating parents as custodians without the slightest regard for their righteousness and well-being, and even enabling children to file complaints against their parents to the responsible authorities, leading to their imprisonment.”

Environment

A young Jordanian woman developed a technology that reduces water loss and leakage by up to 20%, while saving about 10% of household water consumption. Hiba Asaad led SmartWTI, a startup team, to establish a technology to track water consumption and quality via electronic tracking devices by using the latest technology that integrates artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and electronic equipment and software on mobile phones and computer via two models in Mafraq and Jerash governorates. The developed by the young team contributes to water security by creating alternatives to the negative behaviors in water consumption. Asaad stresses that the establishment of her project is a firm belief that achieving decent livelihoods is a right for all, stressing that she has begun to devise methods that help reduce the use of water to sustain this vital natural resource. 

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