By the Dubai School of Government and Brookings Wolfensohn Center
The demographic transition being experienced in the Middle East is leading to high unemployment and social exclusion, making it one of the most critical economic development challenges in the region, research on the Middle East's youth has found.
The research, entitled Generation in Waiting: The Unfulfilled Promise of Young People in the Middle East, was launched at the Dubai School of Government (DSG) on Monday.
With over 100 million people between the ages of 15 and 29, the Middle East has the largest youth cohort in the history of the region, according to the research.
It is a project by the Middle East Youth Initiative, a joint program between the Dubai School of Government and the Wolfensohn Center at the Washington DC-based Brookings Institution, and is packed with statistics and is targeted for policy-makers in the region.
It has been edited by DSG dean Dr Taiq Yousef and Nivtej Dhillon, former policy director at the Middle East Youth Initiative.
Foreword by Anwar Gargash [UAE State Minister]
Specifically focusing on Iran, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Syria and Yemen, the research included a foreword by Anwar Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs, and James Wolfensohn, the former president of the World Bank.
Dr Yousef said that the research showed that the "most important segment in the region is not to be taken for granted", referring to the Middle East's youth.
He also criticized the region's governments for not giving youths due attention, saying the weakest ministries in the region were those dealing with youth matters, that they were also the most underfunded and lacked a political mandate.
The research found that while more of today's youth are educated in comparison to previous generations, the quality of the education in the region is poor and does not qualify them for the private sector, leading many to rely heavily on the already saturated government sectors.
The phenomenon, said Dr Yousef, coupled with low quality, low paid jobs and a lack of social protection is leading the region's youth to get married later in life, which he said was unusual for a conservative region as the Middle East. Marriage as an institution, he added, was under "assault".
According to the research, nearly 50 per cent of males between the ages of 25 and 29 are unmarried. "The marriage market is closely linked with the employment market, the education market, and the housing market," says the study.
Tip of the iceberg
Unemployment, said Mary Kawar of the International Labor Organization was "the tip of the iceberg" in the difficulties facing the region's youth. Young people in the region, she said, faced problems making the transition from school to the workplace.
"80 to 90 per cent of young people in the countries we surveyed had an unsuccessful transition," she said. The "unsuccessful" classification, she said, included those that had taken jobs that they were unhappy with, or "non-career jobs".
"A lot of young Arabs choose to be unemployed because they want to have good jobs," she said.
Nader Qabbani, of the Syria Trust for Development, compared the value of education in job markets between the Arab world and the rest of the world, saying that an extra year of education amounted to a 10 to 15 per cent extra annual income on a global level. "In the Arab world, an extra year would bring six per cent, and in Syria, three per cent," he said.
Ahmed Younis, a consultant at pollster Gallup, painted a bleak picture of the state of the region's youth through statistics. Vast majorities of Arab youths believe that corruption is widespread in the private sector and many believe that having wasta [influence] is the best way to get a job in the region, and most are not willing to relocate for a job, even within their own country.
Dr Yousef said it was refreshing to learn that the research project was not approached from a security perspective.
"In Washington, most [such] discussions were couched in terms of national security, terrorism and counter terrorism… They would say who is going to be the next [Osama] Bin Laden, and how do we stop him… This [research] is refocusing the angle to where the crux is," he said.
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Mauritania: Religious Leaders call for Ending Corporal Punishment in Mauritania
UNICEF
By Christian Skoog and Brahim Ould Isselmou
ATAR, Mauritania, 6 May 2009 – In the first hour after his arrival at a mahadra (Koranic school) in Atar, Ahmed was beaten several times. Over the next four months, he suffered daily.
His ‘Cheikh’, or teacher, used many different tools to punish Ahmed and his friends. Some of the boys who are considered troublemakers were tied up to the trunks of trees and left outside for hours, suffering from the heat and hunger.
“I pray to Allah that I no longer have to wear my torn shirt to cover the scars on my back,” said Ahmed.
Turning to the Imams’ Network
In this country, as in many others, corporal punishment is widespread in mahadras and secular primary schools, and within families. It is considered a suitable and effective educational method.
UNICEF Mauritania analyzed this widespread phenomenon in order to find the best way to address it. Given the pre-eminent position of religious leaders in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a partnership with the Imams’ and Religious Leaders’ Network for Child Rights was deemed an appropriate entry point.
This approach is also in line with the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children, which urges close collaboration with community and religious leaders.
No basis in the Koran
For its part, the Imams’ Network carried out a study to assess whether corporal punishment is allowed in Islam. The evidence was overwhelming: The study found that violence has no place in the Koran.
UNICEF Representative in Mauritania Christian Skoog, local authorities and the President of the Imams’ and Religious Leaders’ Network for Child Rights, Hademine Ould Saleck, attend a workshop on ending corporal punishment.
The results of the study will now form the basis of a fatwa (religious edict) barring physical and verbal violence against children in the educational system, including in the home.
“The evidence that corporal punishment is forbidden by Islam is clear and abiding for all of us,” declared Imams’ Network President Hademine Ould Saleck. “Let us stop arguing. We don’t have a choice, and we must apply Sharia [Islamic law], which fully protects children”.
‘A powerful tool’
A regional workshop to validate the study was held 20-21 April in Atar. Among the participants were 30 Imams from the Adrar and Inchiri regions, as well as UNICEF Representative in Mauritania Christian Skoog.
“We have to use this fatwa prohibiting corporal punishment as a powerful tool to disseminate and put an end to violence in mahadras, schools and religious events,” said Mr. Skoog.
This child-rights initiative coincides with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the scaling up of the country programme in Mauritania. In fact, the regional workshop kicked off a series of commemorative events.
By Christian Skoog and Brahim Ould Isselmou
ATAR, Mauritania, 6 May 2009 – In the first hour after his arrival at a mahadra (Koranic school) in Atar, Ahmed was beaten several times. Over the next four months, he suffered daily.
His ‘Cheikh’, or teacher, used many different tools to punish Ahmed and his friends. Some of the boys who are considered troublemakers were tied up to the trunks of trees and left outside for hours, suffering from the heat and hunger.
“I pray to Allah that I no longer have to wear my torn shirt to cover the scars on my back,” said Ahmed.
Turning to the Imams’ Network
In this country, as in many others, corporal punishment is widespread in mahadras and secular primary schools, and within families. It is considered a suitable and effective educational method.
UNICEF Mauritania analyzed this widespread phenomenon in order to find the best way to address it. Given the pre-eminent position of religious leaders in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a partnership with the Imams’ and Religious Leaders’ Network for Child Rights was deemed an appropriate entry point.
This approach is also in line with the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children, which urges close collaboration with community and religious leaders.
No basis in the Koran
For its part, the Imams’ Network carried out a study to assess whether corporal punishment is allowed in Islam. The evidence was overwhelming: The study found that violence has no place in the Koran.
UNICEF Representative in Mauritania Christian Skoog, local authorities and the President of the Imams’ and Religious Leaders’ Network for Child Rights, Hademine Ould Saleck, attend a workshop on ending corporal punishment.
The results of the study will now form the basis of a fatwa (religious edict) barring physical and verbal violence against children in the educational system, including in the home.
“The evidence that corporal punishment is forbidden by Islam is clear and abiding for all of us,” declared Imams’ Network President Hademine Ould Saleck. “Let us stop arguing. We don’t have a choice, and we must apply Sharia [Islamic law], which fully protects children”.
‘A powerful tool’
A regional workshop to validate the study was held 20-21 April in Atar. Among the participants were 30 Imams from the Adrar and Inchiri regions, as well as UNICEF Representative in Mauritania Christian Skoog.
“We have to use this fatwa prohibiting corporal punishment as a powerful tool to disseminate and put an end to violence in mahadras, schools and religious events,” said Mr. Skoog.
This child-rights initiative coincides with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the scaling up of the country programme in Mauritania. In fact, the regional workshop kicked off a series of commemorative events.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Morocco: In Morccco, breaking down barriers in the Arab world
boston.com Passport
By Fatema Haji-Taki
May 5, 2009
IFRANE, Morocco -- For the past five days, a group of Moroccan students and young-adult activists from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria have been working intensely together in workshops building bridges among themselves and improving skills for creating interfaith community programs in their own countries.
From working to ease interfaith tensions in Egypt and Yemen to advancing women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, these activists are dedicated to sharing their expertise and acquiring new skills on how to effectively plan events, launch campaigns, and secure funding for their field work to promote religious and political freedom in their countries. The workshops emphasize how to translate their online activism to real-world organizing and leadership skills that participants can put to work in practical ways in their home communities.
Ironically, some participants were unable to attend because their visa applications were not approved in time, or, in the case of a prominent Baha’i activist from Egypt, it became too dangerous for her to travel. The empty seats were a stark reminder of the lack of religious and political freedom in most Arab countries.
Jesse Sage, Nasser Weddady and Lauren Murphy from Hands Across the Middle East Support Alliance, a Boston-based nonprofit, and I organized and are facilitating the conference, “Interfaith Leadership Seminar: From the Virtual to the Real World,” at Al Akhawayn University, an English-language college in Ifrane.
Jewish in the Arab world
During the conference the participants met Moroccan Raphael Elmaleh, believed to be the only Jewish tour guide in the Arab world. He is also a founder of the only Jewish museum in the Arab world in Casablanca. Elmaleh’s passion in life is to research the Jewish heritage of Morocco and restore the synagogues and other sites that were left behind by the Jews more than 40 years ago.
“I’m proud to be a Jew in an Arab country,” he says. On Sunday, all the participants had a chance to visit Fez while he showed us the old Jewish Quarter and the cemeteries and the synagogues left behind. For many, this was the first time they had been exposed to the Jewish heritage in an Arab country. By the end of the day, the bond that he created with the rest of the group was heartening.
At first, he acknowledged he was nervous talking about his work to a group of Arab young people from across the Middle East whom he had never met before. But working with the group for two days has changed his mind and he is excited to talk about how Jews and Muslims coexisted peacefully in Morocco and what that means for the future. During dinner yesterday, all of the participants gave him a standing ovation for his dedication while the Moroccan students sang the national anthem. The expression on Elmaleh’s face was invaluable.
Freedom of the press in Yemen
Unfortunately, on Monday, we also learned that an independent newspaper run by one of the Yemeni participants, Abdullah Abdulwahab Naji Qaid, was shut down by Yemeni authorities. Abdullah is a founding member and the General Activity Supervisor of the al-Tagheer Organization for Rights and Freedom Defense, an NGO based in Yemen. He has previously participated in seminars on religious freedom which addressed discrimination against Yemen's Zaidi community.
(Fatema Haji-Taki/UUSC photo)
Yemeni journalist Abdullah Abdulwahab Naji Qaid
When the news broke, the mood among all of us turned solemn. It was a grave reminder of the difficult circumstances these activists work in and the challenges ahead of them after they return home. As the night wore on, the solidarity between all of us for Qaid’s work was palpable. Many are working to organize a campaign for him while others are planning to spread the word through Facebook, their blogs and other online networks.
As a non-Arab Muslim-American human rights activist, I am humbled by the work of my peers. Through the last few days, I’ve seen them work together, debate their differences, sing and dance together. They have created a support network for each other. They are all invested in each others’ success because they all are committed to religious and political freedom in the Arab world.
What they have experienced together as a team will stay with them for the rest of their lives. As they go back, they will face obstacles and there will be times when they will want to give up. My only hope is they will remember the solidarity they experienced this past week and keep soldiering on because they are the future leaders of the Arab world.
By Fatema Haji-Taki
May 5, 2009
IFRANE, Morocco -- For the past five days, a group of Moroccan students and young-adult activists from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria have been working intensely together in workshops building bridges among themselves and improving skills for creating interfaith community programs in their own countries.
From working to ease interfaith tensions in Egypt and Yemen to advancing women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, these activists are dedicated to sharing their expertise and acquiring new skills on how to effectively plan events, launch campaigns, and secure funding for their field work to promote religious and political freedom in their countries. The workshops emphasize how to translate their online activism to real-world organizing and leadership skills that participants can put to work in practical ways in their home communities.
Ironically, some participants were unable to attend because their visa applications were not approved in time, or, in the case of a prominent Baha’i activist from Egypt, it became too dangerous for her to travel. The empty seats were a stark reminder of the lack of religious and political freedom in most Arab countries.
Jesse Sage, Nasser Weddady and Lauren Murphy from Hands Across the Middle East Support Alliance, a Boston-based nonprofit, and I organized and are facilitating the conference, “Interfaith Leadership Seminar: From the Virtual to the Real World,” at Al Akhawayn University, an English-language college in Ifrane.
Jewish in the Arab world
During the conference the participants met Moroccan Raphael Elmaleh, believed to be the only Jewish tour guide in the Arab world. He is also a founder of the only Jewish museum in the Arab world in Casablanca. Elmaleh’s passion in life is to research the Jewish heritage of Morocco and restore the synagogues and other sites that were left behind by the Jews more than 40 years ago.
“I’m proud to be a Jew in an Arab country,” he says. On Sunday, all the participants had a chance to visit Fez while he showed us the old Jewish Quarter and the cemeteries and the synagogues left behind. For many, this was the first time they had been exposed to the Jewish heritage in an Arab country. By the end of the day, the bond that he created with the rest of the group was heartening.
At first, he acknowledged he was nervous talking about his work to a group of Arab young people from across the Middle East whom he had never met before. But working with the group for two days has changed his mind and he is excited to talk about how Jews and Muslims coexisted peacefully in Morocco and what that means for the future. During dinner yesterday, all of the participants gave him a standing ovation for his dedication while the Moroccan students sang the national anthem. The expression on Elmaleh’s face was invaluable.
Freedom of the press in Yemen
Unfortunately, on Monday, we also learned that an independent newspaper run by one of the Yemeni participants, Abdullah Abdulwahab Naji Qaid, was shut down by Yemeni authorities. Abdullah is a founding member and the General Activity Supervisor of the al-Tagheer Organization for Rights and Freedom Defense, an NGO based in Yemen. He has previously participated in seminars on religious freedom which addressed discrimination against Yemen's Zaidi community.
(Fatema Haji-Taki/UUSC photo)
Yemeni journalist Abdullah Abdulwahab Naji Qaid
When the news broke, the mood among all of us turned solemn. It was a grave reminder of the difficult circumstances these activists work in and the challenges ahead of them after they return home. As the night wore on, the solidarity between all of us for Qaid’s work was palpable. Many are working to organize a campaign for him while others are planning to spread the word through Facebook, their blogs and other online networks.
As a non-Arab Muslim-American human rights activist, I am humbled by the work of my peers. Through the last few days, I’ve seen them work together, debate their differences, sing and dance together. They have created a support network for each other. They are all invested in each others’ success because they all are committed to religious and political freedom in the Arab world.
What they have experienced together as a team will stay with them for the rest of their lives. As they go back, they will face obstacles and there will be times when they will want to give up. My only hope is they will remember the solidarity they experienced this past week and keep soldiering on because they are the future leaders of the Arab world.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bahrain: Move to Integrate Arab Youth with Regional Development
Manama — About 400 Arabs have showed their keenness to become members of the first Arab Youth Society in the region. The society will be established officially in Bahrain after Eid Al Fitr.
President of Bahrain Youth Society and founder of Arab Youth Society Ali Sharafi told Khaleej Times on Tuesday that the society is a dream come true to unite the Arab youth in a single organisation and associate themselves with regional development.
The Ministry of Social Development here announced in August the launch of the Arab Youth Society that will soon set up its offices in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.
“From the second day of Eid, I will start my second tour to Arab cities starting with Doha to attract more youth to join the organisation,” he said while highlighting that 19 Arabs are official members in the society. Membership is open to all Arab youth as the society aims to promote youngsters in the region.
- Khaleej Times
President of Bahrain Youth Society and founder of Arab Youth Society Ali Sharafi told Khaleej Times on Tuesday that the society is a dream come true to unite the Arab youth in a single organisation and associate themselves with regional development.
The Ministry of Social Development here announced in August the launch of the Arab Youth Society that will soon set up its offices in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.
“From the second day of Eid, I will start my second tour to Arab cities starting with Doha to attract more youth to join the organisation,” he said while highlighting that 19 Arabs are official members in the society. Membership is open to all Arab youth as the society aims to promote youngsters in the region.
- Khaleej Times
Friday, August 1, 2008
Morocco: Moroccan students attend international youth conference in US
[Iman Belhaj] Youths returning from an international conference in the United States talked to Magharebia about representing their homeland and learning about other cultures.
By Iman Belhaj
A delegation of Casablanca high school students recently spent several days in the United States for an international youth conference aimed at increasing global co-operation at the grassroots level.
Ten Moroccan teenagers joined students from Mexico, the United Kingdom, Iraq, India and other countries at the Sister Cities International Youth Conference, held July 16th-19th in Kansas City, USA under the theme, "Global Action: Taking Community Service Abroad".
The youth delegation's trip from Morocco to Missouri was organized by the Casablanca-Chicago Twinning Association. Director Boubker Mazoz said that the students selected to attend the international conference were "outstanding achievers in school in general, and in English in particular".
He explained that the students' secondary schools – Muhamad VI High in Sidi Momen, Muhamad V High in Darb El Sultan Al Fidaa and Ibn Mseek High – are all "twinned", or partnered, with sister schools in Chicago, USA.
"It was a great opportunity for young people our age, a truly unique opportunity. People of various nationalities got together and exchanged views, and we learned about different world civilizations. We hope we managed to convey a good image of our homeland," said 17-year-old Chaimaa Bourrou.
"We did not just represent the Association. Rather, we represented Moroccan youth, who all share the same dreams and aspirations to change things and send out a message of love and tolerance to all nations and individuals," the first year bac student said. She added that the American young people she met were "really thirsty" to learn about other cultures.
The talented young people had a challenging itinerary during their five-day trip. Jihane Dakir, 17, another bac student, said they participated in several social operations, such as sending school supplies to Iraqi children and observing how prison convicts are re-integrated into US society.
"We learned a lot, and it can truly be regarded as an asset to our stock of knowledge," said Awatif Elmelijy. Like other delegates, Awatif was very excited about the conference, telling Magharebia that her trip helped "correct some notions about Americans and the US".
The conference helped present the real image of Morocco and the country's progress in advancing volunteerism and social service, 18-year-old Ilyass Boujnane said.
"We met tolerant American youth," he told Magharebia. "Contrary to what we see on TV, they are people who want to live in peace, just like we do. Despite some challenges incurred by the difference in culture and religions, we managed to overcome that barrier and communicate freely," Ilyass added.
Another student, Khadija Agnaou, had misgivings before the trip about how other young people in the US would react to her as a veiled young woman. She was delighted to see their warm response to her and their acceptance of her ideas. The Moroccan delegation's easy interaction with peers from many cultures was noted by participants in the Sister Cities International Youth Conference.
Many found the performance of the Casablanca teenagers at the concluding ceremony to be very moving. Dressed in traditional Moroccan clothing, the ten high school students went onto the stage at Rockhurst University with their national flag held high to sing Morocco's national anthem.
Representing more than 2,300 communities in 127 countries, Sister Cities International aims to increase global co-operation at the grassroots level. Bringing together youth from around the world, the exchange program promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and co-operation by focusing on sustainable development, youth
---Magharebia.com
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Youth Problems Need Everyone’s Attention
The welfare of our youth has been compromised by many factors that should be given more serious attention to protect the future of our next generation. Among them are the increasing rates of divorce, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, terrorism, unemployment, low wages and the high cost of living.
To begin with, the alarming rate of divorce is a painful reality that needs to be addressed immediately. Family disputes are a source of pain for our children and have caused enormous difficulties that adversely impact the welfare of our society. When a son or a daughter is raised in a broken home, or when he or she has to live in a miserable atmosphere devoid of love and comfort, no one should expect them to be perfect children or ideal students. Such stressful conditions can create psychological problems, and children become violent and their studies suffer. What is happening nowadays is tragic.
We have prided ourselves on our strong family ties, and we have paid great respect to the institution of marriage. It will be a great shame if we do not stop the erosion of our family values and allow the disintegration of our family system.
There are many reasons behind the rising rate of divorce. Social scientists conclude that women are no longer willing to put up with abusive husbands, and some of our young women are arrogant and have no sense of responsibility. Researchers say the rights of women should be respected, and domestic abuse criminalized. They stress the need for laws to be put in place to protect women and children in order to safeguard a life of dignity for all family members. There have been several national symposiums and conferences that addressed these social ills; however, their recommendations have not had an impact on society, and young Saudi couples are still in desperate need of proper guidance that would help them confront these issues.
The increase in juvenile drug addiction is of great concern. More than 900 addicted children, aged 8-17, were placed in correctional facilities across the Kingdom last year. Based on the statistics of the Ministry of Interior, there were 31,519 drug cases in 2006 — an increase of 2,282 cases over the preceding year. Drug addiction is also increasing among women. According to the Women’s Division at the Narcotics Directorate, about three percent of Saudi addicts are women.
The rise in juvenile delinquency also is very alarming. Social scientists believe this is due to a lack of parental guidance and social upbringing. They stress that the failure of parents to communicate with their children causes the negative behavior. Many children and teenagers turn to mischief out of boredom. Moreover, rigid interpretations of Islam far removed from reality and contradicting social values cause the moral degradation of our youth.
However, parents are not the only ones to blame. Religious scholars need to preach moderate Islam to win back our youth and instill in them the true morals of our religion. The government should provide appropriate sports facilities or perhaps encourage the construction of movie theaters to introduce a spirit of fun and joy in the lives of our kids. Top priority should be given to the creation of healthy entertainment for our young people. Parks should be available in every district for children to enjoy outdoor activities, and community centers should be established to provide an outlet for youngsters to meet and exercise under the supervision of counselors and sports trainers.
The media must play a greater role in highlighting these challenges and threats. Researchers warn against modern-day technologies accessible to children without proper adult supervision. The majority of children in our society have free access to Internet sites unsuitable for their age.
Many abuse the use of Bluetooth services on cell phones. Some are given mobiles at a very early age. Some acquire very aggressive behavior from violent computer games that are provided by disinterested parents. The ignorance and negligence of parents have caused the spread of violence, blackmail, sexual disorders and drug and alcohol addiction over the past few years. In order to confront this trend, the media has a responsibility to raise awareness among parents and stress the need for adult supervision to protect our youngsters from the negative impacts of these technologies.
Moreover, the threat of terrorism still exists. The media must keep parents alert to the dangers of manipulative terrorists, criminals and addicts. Social scientists advise parents to engage in dialogue with their children and discuss ideological and behavioral issues in order to gain a better understanding of their frustrations as well as needs. Such discussions prevent terrorists from jeopardizing the safety and harmony of our families.
Our government should be doing more to eradicate poverty and provide better wages for our young population. We need to give hope to the young and allow them to start families and live in decent conditions. If our youth cannot find employment, they will resort to theft and other criminal activities to survive. A recent study revealed that unemployment and the spread of drug abuse among Saudi youth are the main reasons for the increase in crime.
The majority of robbers were found to be secondary school certificate holders. Their economic conditions were bad, and two-thirds of them did not even have shelter. Our government officials should accelerate reforms and devise better strategies to overcome these problems if they are to succeed in their campaign against crime and terrorism.
The disintegration of the Saudi family is an alarming threat that should be addressed more seriously; the government, the media, religious leaders and social scientists need to raise the alarm and work harder to protect this generation before it is too late. Such steps would create a better social environment for our young people, but they will be meaningless if parents do not shoulder the responsibility of giving their youngsters the guidance they should be getting at home. That requires involvement with their children every day and a loving, caring home environment; otherwise, the disintegration of Saudi families will continue, and we will long for the days when we could have made a difference.
-- Samar Fatany, Arab News
To begin with, the alarming rate of divorce is a painful reality that needs to be addressed immediately. Family disputes are a source of pain for our children and have caused enormous difficulties that adversely impact the welfare of our society. When a son or a daughter is raised in a broken home, or when he or she has to live in a miserable atmosphere devoid of love and comfort, no one should expect them to be perfect children or ideal students. Such stressful conditions can create psychological problems, and children become violent and their studies suffer. What is happening nowadays is tragic.
We have prided ourselves on our strong family ties, and we have paid great respect to the institution of marriage. It will be a great shame if we do not stop the erosion of our family values and allow the disintegration of our family system.
There are many reasons behind the rising rate of divorce. Social scientists conclude that women are no longer willing to put up with abusive husbands, and some of our young women are arrogant and have no sense of responsibility. Researchers say the rights of women should be respected, and domestic abuse criminalized. They stress the need for laws to be put in place to protect women and children in order to safeguard a life of dignity for all family members. There have been several national symposiums and conferences that addressed these social ills; however, their recommendations have not had an impact on society, and young Saudi couples are still in desperate need of proper guidance that would help them confront these issues.
The increase in juvenile drug addiction is of great concern. More than 900 addicted children, aged 8-17, were placed in correctional facilities across the Kingdom last year. Based on the statistics of the Ministry of Interior, there were 31,519 drug cases in 2006 — an increase of 2,282 cases over the preceding year. Drug addiction is also increasing among women. According to the Women’s Division at the Narcotics Directorate, about three percent of Saudi addicts are women.
The rise in juvenile delinquency also is very alarming. Social scientists believe this is due to a lack of parental guidance and social upbringing. They stress that the failure of parents to communicate with their children causes the negative behavior. Many children and teenagers turn to mischief out of boredom. Moreover, rigid interpretations of Islam far removed from reality and contradicting social values cause the moral degradation of our youth.
However, parents are not the only ones to blame. Religious scholars need to preach moderate Islam to win back our youth and instill in them the true morals of our religion. The government should provide appropriate sports facilities or perhaps encourage the construction of movie theaters to introduce a spirit of fun and joy in the lives of our kids. Top priority should be given to the creation of healthy entertainment for our young people. Parks should be available in every district for children to enjoy outdoor activities, and community centers should be established to provide an outlet for youngsters to meet and exercise under the supervision of counselors and sports trainers.
The media must play a greater role in highlighting these challenges and threats. Researchers warn against modern-day technologies accessible to children without proper adult supervision. The majority of children in our society have free access to Internet sites unsuitable for their age.
Many abuse the use of Bluetooth services on cell phones. Some are given mobiles at a very early age. Some acquire very aggressive behavior from violent computer games that are provided by disinterested parents. The ignorance and negligence of parents have caused the spread of violence, blackmail, sexual disorders and drug and alcohol addiction over the past few years. In order to confront this trend, the media has a responsibility to raise awareness among parents and stress the need for adult supervision to protect our youngsters from the negative impacts of these technologies.
Moreover, the threat of terrorism still exists. The media must keep parents alert to the dangers of manipulative terrorists, criminals and addicts. Social scientists advise parents to engage in dialogue with their children and discuss ideological and behavioral issues in order to gain a better understanding of their frustrations as well as needs. Such discussions prevent terrorists from jeopardizing the safety and harmony of our families.
Our government should be doing more to eradicate poverty and provide better wages for our young population. We need to give hope to the young and allow them to start families and live in decent conditions. If our youth cannot find employment, they will resort to theft and other criminal activities to survive. A recent study revealed that unemployment and the spread of drug abuse among Saudi youth are the main reasons for the increase in crime.
The majority of robbers were found to be secondary school certificate holders. Their economic conditions were bad, and two-thirds of them did not even have shelter. Our government officials should accelerate reforms and devise better strategies to overcome these problems if they are to succeed in their campaign against crime and terrorism.
The disintegration of the Saudi family is an alarming threat that should be addressed more seriously; the government, the media, religious leaders and social scientists need to raise the alarm and work harder to protect this generation before it is too late. Such steps would create a better social environment for our young people, but they will be meaningless if parents do not shoulder the responsibility of giving their youngsters the guidance they should be getting at home. That requires involvement with their children every day and a loving, caring home environment; otherwise, the disintegration of Saudi families will continue, and we will long for the days when we could have made a difference.
-- Samar Fatany, Arab News
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Middle East: Youth Bulge: Challenge or Opportunity?
Brookings Institute: The youth challenge is the most critical 21st century economic development challenge facing the Middle East.
In my brief remarks today, I would like to make one central point: The youth challenge is the most critical 21st century economic development challenge facing the Middle East. In a region where almost 65% of the population is under the age of 30, long term prosperity and stability hinges on the opportunities afforded to this generation. While radicalism and terrorism remain critical security concerns, the majority of Middle Eastern youth are involved in a different fight: a fight for better education, jobs and affordable housing. It is on the back of this generation that the Middle East will build a future middle class - a middle class which can be a catalyst for more open and democratic societies. Therefore to advance U.S. interests in the Middle East, we need more than anti-radicalization strategy; we need a strategy that elevates youth-development alongside defense and diplomacy both in principle and practice.
Drawing both on our research at Brookings and a recent trip to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon where I worked with young people I would like to elaborate on this main thesis by focusing on three areas: first, to show that the Middle East is at a critical juncture and how a large youth bulge presents opportunities for growth and prosperity; second, to outline the main challenges facing youth in the region; and third, to showcase some of the implications for policy, especially U.S. policy with regards to the region.
Recognizing that the Middle East is at crossroads, we have to realize that there is a narrow window of opportunity to build a foundation for lasting prosperity. The region faces a scenario of double dividend or double jeopardy: for the first time in its modern history, the Middle East is simultaneously experiencing an economic boom and a demographic boon. The region is experiencing its best economic performance in three decades – oil and non oil producing countries alike are showing record growth. Second, the region has a large youth bulge, presenting a large pool of human capital which if used productively can usher growth and prosperity. If countries can take advantage of the confluence of these two historic gifts, they can create a virtuous cycle of higher growth, higher incomes and savings. Failure to do so will result in a double jeopardy: the economic and social exclusion of youth drains growth and creates social strife. But the time for securing this double dividend is now. The window of opportunity – where countries have fewer dependents - will close in the next ten to fifteen years.
Middle Eastern economies can seize this opportunity as many Asian economies have done. However, without urgent reform, the region risks missing this historic opportunity. Already, there are some alarming signs. Despite good economic growth, prospects for young people are not improving significantly or rapidly. This has been a central pre-occupation of the Middle East Youth Initiative – to understand why young people continue to be excluded.
I will be sharing some of the concepts and ideas that our studies and work have led to.
The majority of 15-24 and 25-30 year olds in the region are confronted with a new life phase we have termed waithood – a concept that refers to the bewildering time in which large proportions of Middle Eastern youth spend their best years waiting. It is a phase in which the difficulties youth face in each of these interrelated spheres of life result in a debilitating state of helplessness and dependency. Waithood can be best understood by examining outcomes and linkages across five different sectors: education, employment, housing, credit, and marriage.
Poorly prepared for the labor market by their educational systems, Middle Eastern youth face unemployment rates that are nearly twice the world average (20-40 percent compared to 10-20 percent). Furthermore, their queuing time for their first job is measured in years rather than months compared to their counterparts in Asia and Latin America. I’ve met many youth in the region who have waited 3-4 years for a public sector job.
With regards to housing – all the oil money flowing into the region has sent the costs of real estate soaring in urban cities. This often compromises young people’s ability to get married and lead independent lives. Furthermore, while credit allows youth in other parts of the world to smooth their future consumption, in many Middle Eastern countries, poorly functioning credit markets fail in their basic purpose.
As a result of not being able to afford a dowry, or a house, young Middle Eastern men are involuntarily delaying marriage, which in the region, is a rite to passage for adulthood, independence and legitimate sexual relationships. Today, the average age of marriage is on the rise in most Middle Eastern countries, imposing economic and social costs which have yet to be fully understood. All this compounds the dependency of youth on their parents.
So we get back to the question: why does this waithood persist even in good times? The root cause lies in the economic and social institutions and the signals they send which shapes behavior and decisions. Think of this as the invisible infrastructure – the rules of the game which organize society. In the Middle East, this invisible infrastructure is based on an education system which prepares youth for public sector employment, thereby reinforcing three problematic ideas. First, that a university education is the only prize worth pursuing. Second, the notion of a lifetime secure desk job. Third, that readiness for marriage is largely contingent upon both a university education and a stable job which only perpetuates the lure for degrees and desk jobs. But with globalization and privatization, this invisible infrastructure is no longer functioning as it should. Let me illustrate this concept with some examples and facts from the ground.
Parents in the region invest billions of dollars in private tutoring to increasingly prep their children for standardized tests, so children end up learning a narrow set of skills. Then donors and governments must spend resources re-training these very youth to given them a wider range of skills because of the limitedness and poor quality of their initial education. Public policy would be infinitely more effective if parents had the incentives to invest in broader skills, rather than governments and donors undoing the investment of parents.
Through a focus group we held in Jordan, we found that young men are willing to continue waiting for public sector jobs which may never materialize. They are not incentivized to search for a job in the private sector (informal or formal) because they feel the wait is much better than the stigma and insecurity attached to work in the private sector.
Why do youth who have lower opportunity costs not undertake more voluntary work? A Gallup poll in 2006/2007 asked Middle Eastern youth “in the last month, did you volunteer your time to an organization”. The regional average was just 11%; in countries like Jordan, only 4% of respondents answered yes. The reason is because youth and their families have no incentives to invest in volunteerism; neither public nor private sector jobs value these experiences, and universities base their decisions on nothing but national rankings on standardized testing.
But all is not lost – because here you have a region where parents are willing to do anything for their children; most youth are in school and spend years working for their future; and policy makers are increasingly more concerned about these issues.
Now I will touch upon the implications these challenges pose for policymaking with a particular focus on the U.S. perspective.
First, the youth challenges that the region is facing are driven by economic and social incentives, which in turn shape the decisions taken by millions of families and youth. Youth transitions constitute outcomes across several interconnected markets, most importantly in education, labor, credit, and marriage. Program and Policies need to exploit these inter-linkages. For example, if programs are going to provide credit to young people to start their own businesses, it is important to build-in clear criteria which are based not only on their diplomas but what they have achieved outside school to incentivize volunteerism and extracurricular activities.
Second, the chasm in U.S.-Middle East relations has emerged amidst greater convergence in ideas and aspirations. Triggered by a large youth cohort, the Middle East is undergoing change where it is aligning with fundamental drivers of globalization. The region has embraced the idea of market economy and values education. Middle Eastern youth ascribe to the fundamental pro-growth norms of behavior such as hard work and high investment in children including girls.
There is a strong foundation to build a future middle class. These are all areas where the U.S. is a leader. As the country with the world’s best record in harnessing the energy of youth, there is much the U.S. can offer the Middle East. The U.S. relationship with the region should be cast on broader terms, making youth development as a template for exercising smart power.
Key recommendations include exporting soft technology for institutional reform of education. Youth in the U.S. have a relatively smooth transition to adulthood compared to most advanced countries. Transitions to adulthood in the US are facilitated because of the close integration between the education system and the labor market. The U.S institutional set up may not fit the Middle East perfectly, but as with all exports, soft technology exports can be adapted to fit local conditions. The educational system in the U.S. has already provided the region with great institutions of higher education – such as the American Universities of Beirut and Cairo—which have produced many of the region’s leaders. The US can extend assistance on a broader scale encompassing curriculum reform for high schools, the transition from high school to university (reforms of university admission practices), and the transition from school to work. Government should create incentives for greater collaboration between Middle Eastern and U.S. non governmental organizations, research institutes and universities.
The challenge is how the U.S. can build on its strengths and can be seen as genuinely interested in economic development. At the moment, there is a lack of instruments for such an exchange. In fact, currently, the Foreign Assistance Act does not have an explicit window to target funds for youth. The language of the Foreign Assistance Act should be changed to overcome this policy flaw. Youth development should be given priority, particularly in countries experiencing “youth bulge” and high rates of youth unemployment.
And finally, the discourse on the Middle East is highly and exclusively political and lacks an economic development focus. Addressing Middle Eastern youth solely through the prism of potential extremism misses the opportunity for aligning U.S. policy with the aspirations of the majority of the moderate citizens in the Middle East. It alienates the very people we are trying to help. Currently, there is re-negotiation of the rules of the game in the region, and it is being spurred by youth, who we should be empowering and supporting.
By Navtej Dhillon, Fellow/Director of the Middle East Youth Initiative, co-presented at a panel of experts to congressional staffers from the Foreign Relations Committee on the implications and opportunities of the youth bulge and how states and outside organizations are trying to respond. Joining him were Honorable Marwan Muasher, Senior Vice President at the World Bank, and Ellen Laipson, President/CEO of the Stimson Center.
In my brief remarks today, I would like to make one central point: The youth challenge is the most critical 21st century economic development challenge facing the Middle East. In a region where almost 65% of the population is under the age of 30, long term prosperity and stability hinges on the opportunities afforded to this generation. While radicalism and terrorism remain critical security concerns, the majority of Middle Eastern youth are involved in a different fight: a fight for better education, jobs and affordable housing. It is on the back of this generation that the Middle East will build a future middle class - a middle class which can be a catalyst for more open and democratic societies. Therefore to advance U.S. interests in the Middle East, we need more than anti-radicalization strategy; we need a strategy that elevates youth-development alongside defense and diplomacy both in principle and practice.
Drawing both on our research at Brookings and a recent trip to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon where I worked with young people I would like to elaborate on this main thesis by focusing on three areas: first, to show that the Middle East is at a critical juncture and how a large youth bulge presents opportunities for growth and prosperity; second, to outline the main challenges facing youth in the region; and third, to showcase some of the implications for policy, especially U.S. policy with regards to the region.
Recognizing that the Middle East is at crossroads, we have to realize that there is a narrow window of opportunity to build a foundation for lasting prosperity. The region faces a scenario of double dividend or double jeopardy: for the first time in its modern history, the Middle East is simultaneously experiencing an economic boom and a demographic boon. The region is experiencing its best economic performance in three decades – oil and non oil producing countries alike are showing record growth. Second, the region has a large youth bulge, presenting a large pool of human capital which if used productively can usher growth and prosperity. If countries can take advantage of the confluence of these two historic gifts, they can create a virtuous cycle of higher growth, higher incomes and savings. Failure to do so will result in a double jeopardy: the economic and social exclusion of youth drains growth and creates social strife. But the time for securing this double dividend is now. The window of opportunity – where countries have fewer dependents - will close in the next ten to fifteen years.
Middle Eastern economies can seize this opportunity as many Asian economies have done. However, without urgent reform, the region risks missing this historic opportunity. Already, there are some alarming signs. Despite good economic growth, prospects for young people are not improving significantly or rapidly. This has been a central pre-occupation of the Middle East Youth Initiative – to understand why young people continue to be excluded.
I will be sharing some of the concepts and ideas that our studies and work have led to.
The majority of 15-24 and 25-30 year olds in the region are confronted with a new life phase we have termed waithood – a concept that refers to the bewildering time in which large proportions of Middle Eastern youth spend their best years waiting. It is a phase in which the difficulties youth face in each of these interrelated spheres of life result in a debilitating state of helplessness and dependency. Waithood can be best understood by examining outcomes and linkages across five different sectors: education, employment, housing, credit, and marriage.
Poorly prepared for the labor market by their educational systems, Middle Eastern youth face unemployment rates that are nearly twice the world average (20-40 percent compared to 10-20 percent). Furthermore, their queuing time for their first job is measured in years rather than months compared to their counterparts in Asia and Latin America. I’ve met many youth in the region who have waited 3-4 years for a public sector job.
With regards to housing – all the oil money flowing into the region has sent the costs of real estate soaring in urban cities. This often compromises young people’s ability to get married and lead independent lives. Furthermore, while credit allows youth in other parts of the world to smooth their future consumption, in many Middle Eastern countries, poorly functioning credit markets fail in their basic purpose.
As a result of not being able to afford a dowry, or a house, young Middle Eastern men are involuntarily delaying marriage, which in the region, is a rite to passage for adulthood, independence and legitimate sexual relationships. Today, the average age of marriage is on the rise in most Middle Eastern countries, imposing economic and social costs which have yet to be fully understood. All this compounds the dependency of youth on their parents.
So we get back to the question: why does this waithood persist even in good times? The root cause lies in the economic and social institutions and the signals they send which shapes behavior and decisions. Think of this as the invisible infrastructure – the rules of the game which organize society. In the Middle East, this invisible infrastructure is based on an education system which prepares youth for public sector employment, thereby reinforcing three problematic ideas. First, that a university education is the only prize worth pursuing. Second, the notion of a lifetime secure desk job. Third, that readiness for marriage is largely contingent upon both a university education and a stable job which only perpetuates the lure for degrees and desk jobs. But with globalization and privatization, this invisible infrastructure is no longer functioning as it should. Let me illustrate this concept with some examples and facts from the ground.
Parents in the region invest billions of dollars in private tutoring to increasingly prep their children for standardized tests, so children end up learning a narrow set of skills. Then donors and governments must spend resources re-training these very youth to given them a wider range of skills because of the limitedness and poor quality of their initial education. Public policy would be infinitely more effective if parents had the incentives to invest in broader skills, rather than governments and donors undoing the investment of parents.
Through a focus group we held in Jordan, we found that young men are willing to continue waiting for public sector jobs which may never materialize. They are not incentivized to search for a job in the private sector (informal or formal) because they feel the wait is much better than the stigma and insecurity attached to work in the private sector.
Why do youth who have lower opportunity costs not undertake more voluntary work? A Gallup poll in 2006/2007 asked Middle Eastern youth “in the last month, did you volunteer your time to an organization”. The regional average was just 11%; in countries like Jordan, only 4% of respondents answered yes. The reason is because youth and their families have no incentives to invest in volunteerism; neither public nor private sector jobs value these experiences, and universities base their decisions on nothing but national rankings on standardized testing.
But all is not lost – because here you have a region where parents are willing to do anything for their children; most youth are in school and spend years working for their future; and policy makers are increasingly more concerned about these issues.
Now I will touch upon the implications these challenges pose for policymaking with a particular focus on the U.S. perspective.
First, the youth challenges that the region is facing are driven by economic and social incentives, which in turn shape the decisions taken by millions of families and youth. Youth transitions constitute outcomes across several interconnected markets, most importantly in education, labor, credit, and marriage. Program and Policies need to exploit these inter-linkages. For example, if programs are going to provide credit to young people to start their own businesses, it is important to build-in clear criteria which are based not only on their diplomas but what they have achieved outside school to incentivize volunteerism and extracurricular activities.
Second, the chasm in U.S.-Middle East relations has emerged amidst greater convergence in ideas and aspirations. Triggered by a large youth cohort, the Middle East is undergoing change where it is aligning with fundamental drivers of globalization. The region has embraced the idea of market economy and values education. Middle Eastern youth ascribe to the fundamental pro-growth norms of behavior such as hard work and high investment in children including girls.
There is a strong foundation to build a future middle class. These are all areas where the U.S. is a leader. As the country with the world’s best record in harnessing the energy of youth, there is much the U.S. can offer the Middle East. The U.S. relationship with the region should be cast on broader terms, making youth development as a template for exercising smart power.
Key recommendations include exporting soft technology for institutional reform of education. Youth in the U.S. have a relatively smooth transition to adulthood compared to most advanced countries. Transitions to adulthood in the US are facilitated because of the close integration between the education system and the labor market. The U.S institutional set up may not fit the Middle East perfectly, but as with all exports, soft technology exports can be adapted to fit local conditions. The educational system in the U.S. has already provided the region with great institutions of higher education – such as the American Universities of Beirut and Cairo—which have produced many of the region’s leaders. The US can extend assistance on a broader scale encompassing curriculum reform for high schools, the transition from high school to university (reforms of university admission practices), and the transition from school to work. Government should create incentives for greater collaboration between Middle Eastern and U.S. non governmental organizations, research institutes and universities.
The challenge is how the U.S. can build on its strengths and can be seen as genuinely interested in economic development. At the moment, there is a lack of instruments for such an exchange. In fact, currently, the Foreign Assistance Act does not have an explicit window to target funds for youth. The language of the Foreign Assistance Act should be changed to overcome this policy flaw. Youth development should be given priority, particularly in countries experiencing “youth bulge” and high rates of youth unemployment.
And finally, the discourse on the Middle East is highly and exclusively political and lacks an economic development focus. Addressing Middle Eastern youth solely through the prism of potential extremism misses the opportunity for aligning U.S. policy with the aspirations of the majority of the moderate citizens in the Middle East. It alienates the very people we are trying to help. Currently, there is re-negotiation of the rules of the game in the region, and it is being spurred by youth, who we should be empowering and supporting.
By Navtej Dhillon, Fellow/Director of the Middle East Youth Initiative, co-presented at a panel of experts to congressional staffers from the Foreign Relations Committee on the implications and opportunities of the youth bulge and how states and outside organizations are trying to respond. Joining him were Honorable Marwan Muasher, Senior Vice President at the World Bank, and Ellen Laipson, President/CEO of the Stimson Center.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Jordan and Kuwait: New Public Service Announcements
In December 2007, representatives of Jordanian and Kuwaiti civil society organizations successfully produced their own Public Service Announcements (PSAs), after undergoing digital media training organized by the New York-based organization, Barefoot Workshops. The training taught participants how to conceptualize, film, produce, and edit their own PSAs, and provided these organizations a new tool for engaging a wide audience of fellow citizens on key issues of public concern.
Some of the PSAs have already been screened on television and posted to the participant organizations’ websites. All of the PSAs were posted on YouTube, where they have already been viewed in Arabic and English by more than seven thousand visitors. To watch the PSAs, click here.
Some of the PSAs have already been screened on television and posted to the participant organizations’ websites. All of the PSAs were posted on YouTube, where they have already been viewed in Arabic and English by more than seven thousand visitors. To watch the PSAs, click here.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Students Welcome Decision on Unions
The Shoura Council has passed a new University Law that allows the formation of student unions at Saudi universities. The unions will have a representative on the university council, the law said. The members of the unions will be elected by secret ballot and can serve for more than one term. Financing will be from the university budget, donations, gifts and revenue from their activities.
University students and teachers have welcomed the decision to form student unions and said it would improve educational standard and create a healthy environment on campuses. “It’s a very important decision,” said Dr. Abdul Ilah Saaty, vice dean of the Community College at King Abdulaziz University (KAU). “The union will help students raise their voice and express their wishes.” Saaty proposed election of a member from each college to the student union in order to have proper representation.
Abdullah Abdul Jawad, a university student, was excited hearing the news and said the unions would make Saudi campuses more lively and engaging.
Malekah Bakash, a KAU home economics student, commended the Shoura decision and said it would have great impact on student life in campuses. “It will enable students to participate in extracurricular activities in order to show off their skills and capabilities,” she added.
The promotion of dialogue between students and teachers is another major point in favor of student unions. “The unions will break down the barriers between students and faculty members,” Saaty said. He also urged authorities to make student unions an important body at universities to allow students to participate in the decision-making process.
Dr. Hassan Felemban, vice dean of KAU’s Faculty of Science for development, commended the new law passed by the Shoura which will give students a pivotal role in the university system. “The proposed student unions will help in developing responsible students.”
Felemban said unions would also provide a good place for students to achieve practical experience before entering the job market, especially in the area of taking up responsibilities with efficiency.
Professor Muhammad Ismail Abdussalam at KAU’s College of Engineering, described the move to establish student unions as a progressive decision, adding that it would stimulate educational development. “Unions will also help us stay aware of the quality and impact of our educational products and make continuous assessment, keeping in view student views and demands.”
- Arab News
University students and teachers have welcomed the decision to form student unions and said it would improve educational standard and create a healthy environment on campuses. “It’s a very important decision,” said Dr. Abdul Ilah Saaty, vice dean of the Community College at King Abdulaziz University (KAU). “The union will help students raise their voice and express their wishes.” Saaty proposed election of a member from each college to the student union in order to have proper representation.
Abdullah Abdul Jawad, a university student, was excited hearing the news and said the unions would make Saudi campuses more lively and engaging.
Malekah Bakash, a KAU home economics student, commended the Shoura decision and said it would have great impact on student life in campuses. “It will enable students to participate in extracurricular activities in order to show off their skills and capabilities,” she added.
The promotion of dialogue between students and teachers is another major point in favor of student unions. “The unions will break down the barriers between students and faculty members,” Saaty said. He also urged authorities to make student unions an important body at universities to allow students to participate in the decision-making process.
Dr. Hassan Felemban, vice dean of KAU’s Faculty of Science for development, commended the new law passed by the Shoura which will give students a pivotal role in the university system. “The proposed student unions will help in developing responsible students.”
Felemban said unions would also provide a good place for students to achieve practical experience before entering the job market, especially in the area of taking up responsibilities with efficiency.
Professor Muhammad Ismail Abdussalam at KAU’s College of Engineering, described the move to establish student unions as a progressive decision, adding that it would stimulate educational development. “Unions will also help us stay aware of the quality and impact of our educational products and make continuous assessment, keeping in view student views and demands.”
- Arab News
Monday, December 17, 2007
Egypt: Egypt's YouTube Democrats
Washington Post
By Jackson Diehl
They do know a lot of people like themselves. "The majority of Egyptians are like us, under the age of 35," said Ahmed Samih, the 28-year-old director of the Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies in Cairo. "Our president is 85, and far away from Facebook."
Samih, a fearless man who says he has been a political activist since age 17, ought to know. Six months ago he founded a Facebook group called "What happens when Hosni Mubarak dies?"
Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt under "emergency law" since 1981, is actually only 79. But he is noticeably fading. And Samih's group has attracted 2,741 members, almost all of them Egyptian.
Facebook and YouTube are where the young Egyptian democracy movement lives -- mostly out of reach of Mubarak's secret police. There are more than 60 Facebook groups devoted to liberal Egyptian causes; many of them have thousands of members. On YouTube, one can find hundreds of video clips showing demonstrations for human rights in Egypt, speeches by liberal activists, sermons by reformist Muslim clerics -- and torture by Mubarak's security forces, captured on cellphones.
The king of torture videos is Wael Abbas, a 34-year-old journalist and blogger. A clip he posted of police sodomizing a minibus driver with a stick scandalized the country and forced the prosecution of two officers. Last month, his YouTube account was suspended, on the grounds that his videos violated the site's standards. Following a clamor from human rights groups and a shower of e-mails from outraged Egyptians, his access was restored, and 187 of his clips were back up last week.
This is not to say that Egyptian activists can't be found in real-life neighborhoods. One of the interesting things about the activists visiting Washington was their disdain for the aging elite of Egypt's opposition parties, who mostly confine themselves to editing small newspapers or writing books. "It's time to get out and work with groups that have concrete problems," said Mozn Hassan, the 28-year-old head of Nazra for Feminist Studies, a group focused on training female activists. "People who are living in Upper Egypt don't care about the emergency law. But if we can relate this to their rights as a woman, or as a [Christian] Copt, or as a person who cannot get work, we can recruit them to the overall cause of reform."
The activists were brought to the United States by the human rights group Freedom House, which gave them one-month fellowships to work with U.S. community organizations and arranged for them to meet Rice on Human Rights Day. Many of them were in the United States for the first time. They seemed grateful for the opportunity to meet Rice even though they've been disappointed by her swivel in the past two years from calling on Egypt to "lead the way" to Arab democratization to embracing Mubarak as a "mainstream ally" and helpmate in Israeli-Palestinian talks.
"The United States has decided it needs Mubarak more than they need to support the human rights cause," said Ola Shahba, a 29-year-old project manager for Nahdet El Mahrousa, a group that promotes community development projects. "We are in trouble, and we need to work our way out of it."
Part of that work, as the activists saw it, was reminding Rice and others in Washington that support for democracy in Egypt is not a matter of charity. "We are not just saying, 'We are some idealistic group so help us,' " said Samih. "We are saying, 'This is in your national interest.' Reform in Egypt is important to the United States. The theory that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't doesn't work -- because the devil you know brought you Mohamed Atta."
For now that truth seems to have been forgotten at Rice's State Department. But Samih and his friends are young, and they are busy planning for life after Hosni Mubarak and George W. Bush.
By Jackson Diehl
They do know a lot of people like themselves. "The majority of Egyptians are like us, under the age of 35," said Ahmed Samih, the 28-year-old director of the Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies in Cairo. "Our president is 85, and far away from Facebook."
Samih, a fearless man who says he has been a political activist since age 17, ought to know. Six months ago he founded a Facebook group called "What happens when Hosni Mubarak dies?"
Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt under "emergency law" since 1981, is actually only 79. But he is noticeably fading. And Samih's group has attracted 2,741 members, almost all of them Egyptian.
Facebook and YouTube are where the young Egyptian democracy movement lives -- mostly out of reach of Mubarak's secret police. There are more than 60 Facebook groups devoted to liberal Egyptian causes; many of them have thousands of members. On YouTube, one can find hundreds of video clips showing demonstrations for human rights in Egypt, speeches by liberal activists, sermons by reformist Muslim clerics -- and torture by Mubarak's security forces, captured on cellphones.
The king of torture videos is Wael Abbas, a 34-year-old journalist and blogger. A clip he posted of police sodomizing a minibus driver with a stick scandalized the country and forced the prosecution of two officers. Last month, his YouTube account was suspended, on the grounds that his videos violated the site's standards. Following a clamor from human rights groups and a shower of e-mails from outraged Egyptians, his access was restored, and 187 of his clips were back up last week.
This is not to say that Egyptian activists can't be found in real-life neighborhoods. One of the interesting things about the activists visiting Washington was their disdain for the aging elite of Egypt's opposition parties, who mostly confine themselves to editing small newspapers or writing books. "It's time to get out and work with groups that have concrete problems," said Mozn Hassan, the 28-year-old head of Nazra for Feminist Studies, a group focused on training female activists. "People who are living in Upper Egypt don't care about the emergency law. But if we can relate this to their rights as a woman, or as a [Christian] Copt, or as a person who cannot get work, we can recruit them to the overall cause of reform."
The activists were brought to the United States by the human rights group Freedom House, which gave them one-month fellowships to work with U.S. community organizations and arranged for them to meet Rice on Human Rights Day. Many of them were in the United States for the first time. They seemed grateful for the opportunity to meet Rice even though they've been disappointed by her swivel in the past two years from calling on Egypt to "lead the way" to Arab democratization to embracing Mubarak as a "mainstream ally" and helpmate in Israeli-Palestinian talks.
"The United States has decided it needs Mubarak more than they need to support the human rights cause," said Ola Shahba, a 29-year-old project manager for Nahdet El Mahrousa, a group that promotes community development projects. "We are in trouble, and we need to work our way out of it."
Part of that work, as the activists saw it, was reminding Rice and others in Washington that support for democracy in Egypt is not a matter of charity. "We are not just saying, 'We are some idealistic group so help us,' " said Samih. "We are saying, 'This is in your national interest.' Reform in Egypt is important to the United States. The theory that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't doesn't work -- because the devil you know brought you Mohamed Atta."
For now that truth seems to have been forgotten at Rice's State Department. But Samih and his friends are young, and they are busy planning for life after Hosni Mubarak and George W. Bush.
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