The Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network (AYSDN) launches the “Arab Youth Declaration”, in partnership with YLE – Youth Loves Egypt Foundation, Fakkar Foundation for Environmental and Community Entrepreneurship – Libya, and the Environment, Climate and Meteorology Department of the League of Arab States.
This is not simply another declaration added to a long list of statements and demands. It is an attempt to document the voices of Arab youth and transform their perspectives, experiences, and proposals into actionable priorities and recommendations.
We believe that, as we celebrate young people, one of the simplest rights we can offer them is to listen to them, take their perspectives seriously, and bring their voices to those with the ability to shape decisions.
Throughout the development of the declaration, it was important to us not to treat the consultation as merely a set of numbers. We listened to the challenges young people identified, the root causes behind them, the solutions they proposed, the initiatives they are already leading, and the actors they believe should drive meaningful change.
More than 120 young women and men from 14+ Arab countries contributed to the consultation, representing diverse backgrounds and sectors, including climate and sustainability, education and research, human rights, civil society, entrepreneurship, agriculture and food security, health, energy, and innovation.
Most importantly, the contributors were not simply young people speaking about these issues. Many are actively working within these sectors and leading organizations, initiatives, and groups that engage with their communities and fellow young people every day.
This declaration is the result of a collaborative Arab youth effort built on a simple belief: youth voices should not only be heard—they should help shape priorities, policies, and decisions.
For us, this declaration is not a document published for an occasion. It is a commitment to keep listening, keep amplifying youth voices, and keep working until these recommendations move from words on paper to meaningful action.
May these voices reach everyone working toward a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for young people across the Arab region, and may these recommendations find their way into spaces of dialogue and decision-making.
Long live Arab youth—free, creative, and proud.
And may the memory and legacy of those who sacrificed so that we may live endure.
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