The goal of this conference is to engage UNRWA's stakeholders through forward-thinking debates on engaging Palestine refugee youth in a changing Middle East. It will help to sharpen the Agency's focus on youth in our programmes, and help us identify new partnerships in our work.
Held over the course of 1.5 days, the conference will take place in two parts.
The first half-day (the afternoon of 19 March 2012) will offer a platform for high-level speakers to engage on the subject. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, will deliver the lead keynote address.
| 13:00 | Registration and welcome coffee |
| 14:00 | Introduction by Palestine Refugee Youth |
| 14:15 |
Welcome (Europe Room) |
| | Message from the United Nations Secretary-General
Delivered by the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Robert Serry |
| | Mr. Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General
UNRWA |
| | Mr. Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Government of the Kingdom of Belgium
|
| 14:30 |
Keynote speeches (Europe Room) |
| | Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy |
| |
Dr. Riyad Al-Malki (on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas),
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Palestinian Authority |
| |
Dr. Nabil Al-Arabi, Secretary General
League of Arab States |
| |
Mr. Nasser Judeh, Minister of ForeignAffairs
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Chair of the UNRWA Advisory Commission) |
| | Followed by VIP press point (Photo-Op) |
| 16:00 | Coffee break |
| 16:30 | Introduction to Opening Session |
| 16:45 |
Opening Session (Europe Room) |
| |
Discussion: “Challenges and potential of the current generation of Palestine refugees”
|
| 18:30 |
Reception (Mirror Roomends 20:30) |
| | Entertainment event from 19:00 to 20:00 |
The second day (20 March 2012) will be a set of high-level panel discussions on issues related to Palestine refugee youth. These discussions and contributions will open avenues of cooperation and partnership with Palestinian youth and UNRWA. They will also further influence the Agency's youth policy.
| 8:30 | Registration and welcome coffee |
| 9:00 |
Opening panel: "Youth Answers Back" |
| 10:00 | Coffee break |
| 10:30 | Panel discussions |
| |
Panel I: Youth participation: Engaging Palestine Refugee Youth in Social and Civil Development
(Europe Room) |
| |
Panel II: Economic Empowerment of Youth: Creating and Building Resources for the Economic Inclusion of Young Palestinians
(Arenberg Room)
|
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| | Lunchtime Presentation by Emilio Butragueño
Director of Institutional Relations of Real Madrid |
| 13:30 | Panel discussions |
| |
Panel III: Education: Building Capability of Palestine Refugees
(Arenberg Room) |
| | Panel IV: Palestine Refugee Youth: Out of the Margins and Into the Mainstream
(Europe Room)
|
| 15:00 | Coffee break |
| 15:45 |
Closing Session (Europe Room) |
| | Mr. Martin Schulz, President
European Parliament |
| |
Dr. Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister
Palestinian Authority |
| |
Mr. Ahmed Al-Mazroui, Chairman
UAE Red Crescent Society |
| | Closing remarks by Palestine Refugee Youth |
| 17:30 | Chair's Summary and Conclusions (Europe Room)
By the UNRWA Commissioner-General (ends 17:45)
|
This conference will take a forward-looking perspective. It will highlight the need to respond to the concerns of youth and stress the urgency of creating opportunities for the younger generation of Palestine refugees. The fundamental fact remains, however, that a just and lasting solution must be found to the refugee question in the context of peace negotiations. This solution must be the just result of a political agreement between the parties, in line with UN resolutions, with the support of the international community, and in consultation with refugees themselves.
