Youth forum will focus on child refugees

Sharjah is to host a youth forum that will discuss ways to protect refugee children.

SHARJAH // The emirate is to host a youth forum to discuss ways to protect refugee children.

Investing in the Future: Protecting Refugee Children, is the first conference that will focus on refugee child protection in the Middle East and North Africa.

“One of the greatest tragedies of war and conflict situations is that a very large percentage of those affected are children, resulting in a disenfranchised generation that often has little hope for the future,” said Noura Al Noman, director general of the executive office of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi.

“Taking proactive action to combat the negative effect that war and conflict has on the young must therefore be a top priority.”

The two-day forum at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, Sharjah is on October 15 and 16.

It aims to improve communication between youth and the community and involves university and college students and faculty in a range of workshops, reported the government news agency Wam.

The Investing in the Future conference is being held in collaboration with UNHCR and The Big Heart under the patronage of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, in partnership with the Sharjah Business Women Council and Sharjah Tatweer Forum.