Launch of the Arab Youth Forum for Peace and Security in Doha

Doha -- The Doha 2026 Arab Youth Forum on Peace and Security kicked off today in Doha on Sunday. Organized by the Qatari Ministry of Sports and Youth in cooperation with the Arab League, and with the participation of several United Nations agencies, programs, and funds, the forum’s proceedings will last for three days.

In his opening address, Yasir Al-Jamal, Undersecretary of the Qatari Ministry of Sports and Youth, stated that Qatar’s hosting of the forum embodies its commitment to empowering youth and involving them in peacebuilding and decision-making. He emphasized that young people possess the capacity to overcome conflicts, humanitarian crises, and digital challenges—even though they are affected by them—provided they are given knowledge, opportunity, and confidence.

He added that “the Arab region is rich with promising youth potential, and peace made without youth does not endure, nor does development in which they do not participate in shaping its pathways achieve its desired goals.” He noted that Qatar has placed human beings at the center of development, translating its focus on youth into programs in education, sports, culture, and innovation, alongside supporting education in conflict-affected areas, amplifying youth voices in international forums, and prioritizing dialogue and mediation in resolving conflicts.

Al-Jamal clarified that the forum focuses on two main pillars: partnerships and participation, by expanding cooperation among national, Arab, and international institutions, and enabling a genuine role for youth that goes beyond mere attendance to influencing decisions. He noted that the forum brings together youth, decision-makers, and experts through sessions, workshops, and working groups to draft the “Doha Youth Document,” thereby supporting the implementation of the strategy at both the national and regional levels.

For his part, Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports and Chairman of the Executive Office of the Arab Ministers Council for Youth and Sports, Jawhar Nabiel, affirmed that youth are essential partners in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. He stressed that their active participation extends beyond attending events and having their opinions heard; it must reach decision-making and the formulation and follow-up of policy implementation.

He said that “the next phase requires moving from merely qualifying youth to empowering them for meaningful participation, enhancing their roles across various sectors, exchanging successful Arab experiences, and consolidating the Arab Strategy for Youth, Peace, and Security through practical responsibilities that ensure sustained participation and measure its impact.” He pointed out that United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 represented an important step in recognizing the role of youth in peacebuilding, and called for translating the Arab Strategy for Youth, Peace, and Security into practical steps that ensure their sustained participation and measure its impact.

For his part, Dr. Faisal Ghassal, Director of the Youth and Sports Department at the Arab League Secretariat and Minister Plenipotentiary, said in his address that Qatar’s hosting of the forum represents an opportunity to move from establishing frameworks to implementing the Arab Strategy for Youth, Peace, and Security (2023–2028), and to translate its objectives into policies, programs, and initiatives whose impact youth can see in their lives and communities.

He explained that the strategy, adopted by the Arab Summit in Bahrain in 2024, was prepared through a participatory process that included six regional consultations involving representatives of Arab youth.

On his part, Dr. Felipe Poli, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth at the United Nations, noted that Arab youth contribute to peacebuilding despite the conflicts and crises affecting the region. He highlighted that the current challenge lies in moving from recognizing the role of youth to actively involving them in decision-making related to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and recovery, particularly for young women and men affected by conflicts.

Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Sports and Youth, is hosting the Arab Youth Forum on Peace and Security 2026, in cooperation with the Arab League. The forum brings together a number of United Nations agencies, programmes, and funds, alongside youth delegations from 17 Arab countries, several ministers, senior officials, a select group of experts, and representatives of regional and international organizations. Its proceedings will continue until November 17. The forum also serves as an Arab platform for dialogue and the exchange of expertise and experiences, enabling youth from various Arab countries to discuss issues related to peace and security, present their visions and proposals, and participate in drafting practical recommendations that contribute to the development of youth-oriented policies and initiatives, and to strengthen cooperation among national institutions and regional and international organizations. (End) S S S / M K