The Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNICEF in Lebanon concluded the Arab Forum for Economic and Social Empowerment, organized by the ministry in collaboration with the organization at the Hilton - Habtour hotel, as part of the activities of "Beirut: Capital of Arab Youth 2023." The forum included 60 young women and men representing 16 Arab countries: Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Djibouti, Sudan, and Somalia.
On the second day of the forum, several sessions were held, including a speech by Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmad al-Mubraqa on digital transformation, using the "Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports as a Model." The forum extended over two days, consisting of multiple sessions, and the key outcomes were submitted to the relevant authorities in the Arab League as follows:
- Establish comprehensive policies supportive of youth employment to secure decent job opportunities.
- Improve the education system and incorporate practical applications to enable youth to acquire necessary skills for employment.
- Foster partnerships between governments, donor countries, employers, and workers to enhance employment standards.
- Provide suitable working environments and policies that support the participation and integration of persons with disabilities in various sectors, advocating fair hiring practices.
- Assist youth in accessing job opportunities through online platforms by connecting them with available fields.
- Create opportunities for youth by identifying essential skills and how to leverage them for suitable work in the labor market.
- Establish a platform that connects universities and students with the labor market and its requirements.
- Utilize crises to turn them into positive opportunities and find solutions to alleviate the burden on youth by supporting and encouraging entrepreneurship.
- Support and strengthen the economy, reduce migration, and retain youth and talent.
- Link projects with artisanal, industrial, and agricultural sectors to enhance attachment to the land and foster a hopeful national youth segment.
- Emphasize the importance of providing community volunteer opportunities to develop personal skills and facilitate youth participation in decision-making processes.
- Ensure equality and equal opportunities in job search and access.
Participants in the forum also enjoyed a tourist trip to Baalbek Castle followed by a lunch organized in their honor by the "Lost" Association.