Child Parliamentarians Urge Enhanced Youth Awareness On Sustainability Principles At IGCF 2025

The 14th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) hosted a significant session where future Arab leaders shared their insights. This gathering included 30 members from the Arab Parliament for the Child, the Emirati Children’s Parliament, and the Sharjah Youth Council (Shura). The session, "The Voice of Children and Young People. Sustainability: A Duty for Future Generations," aimed to highlight youth perspectives on policy discussions.

Moderated by Elias bin Awad bin Awad Al-Ma'ani, President of the Arab Parliament for the Child, the discussion featured key figures such as Aisha Hamid Al Khayyal, First Deputy Speaker of the Emirati Children’s Parliament; Musbah Mohammed Musbah Al-Ketbi from Sharjah Youth Shura Council; Ayman Othman Al-Barout, Secretary-General of the Arab Parliament for the Child; and Ghizlane Benjelloun, Vice President of Morocco's National Observatory for Child Rights.

Elias bin Awad opened with a reaffirmation of support for His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi's vision. He praised efforts to empower Arab children in tackling societal challenges. Emphasising sustainability as a collective duty to future generations, he called for innovative initiatives that turn discussions into tangible actions.

The young participants stressed that sustainability is crucial for a brighter future. They advocated for better natural resource management and investing in children as future changemakers. Recommendations included promoting green innovation through renewable energy research funding and strengthening environmental laws to address pollution and waste issues.

The session produced several important recommendations. These included fostering a culture of mindful consumption, creating a permanent dialogue platform between government bodies and youth parliaments, and offering continuous learning opportunities through interactive workshops. Supporting youth-led sustainability projects like recycling programmes was also highlighted.

Participants emphasised schools as starting points for sustainability efforts. Specialised committees should support these initiatives by turning sustainability principles into actionable policies and practices. They also suggested adopting technological tools to exchange ideas and develop real-world solutions.

In conclusion, this session at IGCF underscored the importance of involving young voices in shaping sustainable futures. By prioritising education, innovation, and collaboration between youth and government entities, these young leaders aim to create lasting positive impacts on society.

With inputs from WAM