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Youth and Development: A Perspective from the Arab Region

Economic and Social Commission For Western Asia

واإلجـتـماعيـة اإلقـتـصاديـة اللجنةآسـيـا لغـربـي

Ms. Rima Khalaf Executive Secretary - UNESCWA

Outline

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Youth Bulge: A Challenge or a Window of Opportunity?

Needs and Priorities of Youth

A region in Transition

Looking into the future: Harnessing the Potential of Youth.

The Youth Bulge: Challenge or Opportunity

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Data Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision

Youth as a Percentage of Population

Multiple Exclusions

4ESCWA Population and Development Report 4 – Youth in the ESCWA Region: Situation Analysis and Implications for Policy Development, 2009

Yout

h Pol

icy

Mainstreaming or Youth Centric Policies?

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YOUTH

Socia

l D

evelo

pm

en

t P

olicy

Macro

econ

om

ic P

olic

yEmpl

oym

ent Po

licy

Educ

atio

n

Pol

icy

Multiple Responses from the Region

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Youth Employment

ProgramsSocial

Protection for Vulnerable

YouthYouth

Engagement in Decision-making

Youth-Centric Policies and

Program

Political

development

s

A National Experience (Palestine)

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Youth in Palestine in the context of Israeli occupation and lack of opportunities.

Main challenges: violence and displacement; property confiscation; restrictions on mobility and economic activity; lack of economic opportunities

Holistic policy response: increased participation in state building, empowerment, capacity development, investing in youth

What the Youth Want

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Concerted Efforts

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To address the multiple layers of exclusion

Harness their potential in shaping their own futures

UN Support to Youth

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POLICY ADVOCACYCAPACITYBUILDING

Let their voices be heard

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Organized a series of discussion forums and dialogues with the youth of the revolution

Outcomes of forums to feed into a flagship publication on the Arab Region 2025: Prospects for the future written by the youth of the region

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They have shown that

they truly can

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Thank you.