It is the youth who carry and maintain the flame of hope for the future of societies.
In order to unite the ongoing struggles in the Middle East and North Africa, various important issues and topics have been discussed and debated by youth activists and youth organizations from across the region creating a common spirit and understanding. However, these efforts have not been enough to build an alternative and resist the youth-targeted attacks that our societies are facing today.
We are witnessing a decade of struggles and uprisings of ongoing heroism and sacrifice in the Middle East and North Africa since 2011. Nevertheless, in a few cases, the stage of uprising and resistance has been overcome to reach organizational and administrative structures capable of changing oppressive and authoritarian powers. This can help build a free democratic society in which justice and equality prevail for all spectrums and components. Until now this has not been developed to the necessary extent. In particular, we find that revolutionary and democratic youth organizations have common goals, but they have not yet developed mechanisms to find solutions to the crisis we face together in the region.
The Middle East Youth Initiative is the result of a series of discussions, mutual visits and interactive seminars, between different youth personalities and organizations from different countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. On those basis, a conference will be held next month, aiming to overcome shortcomings and weaknesses together through collective action. It also aims to create an umbrella organizational structure for MENA youth, to be able to develop common strategies and coordinated practices.
This initiative holds historic significance for the future of youth in particular and the peoples of the region in general. The initiative focuses on discussing and addressing the most important issues that concern youth and societies, as the collective youth identity to this day suffers from turmoil: youth are victims of the reality in the region, there are huge numbers of unemployed youth suffering from poverty and misery and immigration, running after an empty purposeless life, as well as the misguided use of technology and drug addiction that makes young people unconscious and keeps them disconnected from reality, losing their identity and essence and so on. The initiative is also concerned with the role of youth in solving issues such as: the ecological crisis, the lack of intellectual renewal, will and freedom, justice and equality, violence and oppression against women. The initiative gives the utmost importance to women’s freedom and empowerment in all spheres of life.
The initiative has therefore decided to assemble through this conference, with the aim of : promoting regular meetings, strengthening coordination between youth organizations from the region, discussing existing issues and crises, searching for radical solutions, activating the role of youth in the Middle East and North Africa, developing a comprehensive organizational mechanism for mutual support, reviving the spirit of struggle and youth responsibility, as well as preserving the independence and specificities of youth in all fields of life.
As young people, let us rise and emerge together from under the rubble in the midst of the fires of the wars raging in the region to shape our destiny on the foundations of freedom and democratic socialism. Let us build a free life and a future that ensures coexistence with justice and equality for all sects, components and genders according to the principles of humanity and a decent life, with the vanguard of the most open youth to renewal and change, where we must work with the spirit of struggle collectively and approach responsibly towards all outstanding issues. We appeal to all youth figures and youth organizations to rally around this youth initiative that keeps pace with the intensity of the challenges we are facing.
With our most sincere solidarity greetings and wishes for collective success.
