Mediterranean: Young Arab Voices call for a new dialogue with Europe
March 29, 2016
Share on
Wided Bouchamaoui, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize with the Tunisian “Dialogue Quartet”, joined young leaders from eight Arab countries in Tunis on Saturday 26 March 2016 to call for dialogue with Europe and the Southern Mediterranean.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a landmark Young Arab Voices regional forum, Bouchamaoui said: “The best message to send to the West is our pride in our youth, our unity, our skills to present dialogue. Our message is clear ‘We are ready for dialogue’.” She underlined in her speech the centrality of youth in facing common regional challenges of extremism and radicalisation, while commending the work of Young Arab Voices. “Our future rests in the hands of young women and men,” Bouchamaoui said, adding that “we need to invest in listening to youth and giving them the opportunity to be present in civil society which is the best way to fight radicalisation.”
The Young Arab Voices “Debate to Action” regional forum, organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation and the British Council, in partnership with the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), brought together more than 80 young debaters from eight Arab countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia.