EMPOWER 2026 Ends in Doha as Declaration Advances Youth Leadership for Peace and Security

The 17th edition of the EMPOWER Youth Conference, organised by Education Above All Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, concluded in Doha with a declaration advancing youth leadership for peace and security. Developed by participants, the declaration serves as a call to action addressed to policymakers and decision-makers.

The declaration reflects young people’s voices, priorities and proposed solutions. It is built around four interconnected pillars drawn from the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda: participation, protection, conflict prevention and partnerships.

It calls for meaningful and effective youth participation in decisions concerning peace, security and development, as well as safe and enabling environments for young peacebuilders and advocates. It also urges action to address the root causes of conflict through education, economic empowerment and social cohesion, alongside sustainable partnerships between young people, governments, international organisations, the private sector, civil society and Sport for Development stakeholders.

Arwa Musaaed, Assistant Executive Director of the Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) Programme at Education Above All Foundation, said: “What we witnessed at EMPOWER represents young people moving from participation to leadership. They helped select the theme, discussed ideas and transformed three days of dialogue into practical recommendations.”

She explained that the Youth Declaration does not mark the end of the work. Instead, it places a clear responsibility on the Foundation and its partners to continue providing spaces that enable young people to influence decisions related to their education, opportunities, peace and security.

Fawaz Al Misifri, Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, said: “EMPOWER 2026 demonstrated the importance of giving young people the trust and space to participate in national and regional issues.”

He said the Ministry’s partnership with Education Above All Foundation reflects a commitment to strengthening youth leadership, participation and initiatives. He welcomed the recommendations prepared by the participants and expressed his hope that their contributions would continue after the conference.

Held over three days under the theme “Youth Leading for Peace and Security,” the conference brought together 250 young men and women from Qatar for 18 interactive workshops, four panel discussions and four Power Speeches. The programme addressed meaningful youth participation in decision-making, the protection of young peacebuilders, education and economic opportunities as foundations for peace, and the role of sport and cross-sector partnerships in strengthening resilience and social cohesion.

Speakers and participants included representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, UNICEF, Search for Common Ground, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, civil society organisations, the private sector and Sport for Development organisations. Palestinian students holding Education Above All Foundation scholarships, United Nations youth delegates and the Foundation’s youth advocates also participated as speakers and session moderators, ensuring that young people’s experiences remained at the heart of the discussions.

The EMPOWER 2026 Youth Exhibition provided an additional platform for youth-led ideas and projects and partner initiatives. It also enabled participants to connect with their peers and organisations working in education, economic empowerment, peacebuilding and community development.

Education Above All Youth representatives will present the EMPOWER 2026 Youth Declaration during the Arab Youth Forum for Peace and Security, taking place in Doha from November 15 to 17. This will carry the participants’ recommendations into a broader regional dialogue and connect youth priorities with policy discussions on peace and security.

Through its 17th edition, the conference continued to provide a regional platform enabling young people to develop their skills, build networks, engage with decision-makers and turn their ideas into advocacy and tangible action. Youth committees helped shape the conference’s theme, sessions and activities, while youth advocates served as speakers, session moderators and event presenters throughout the conference.

Source: QNA

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