Fifth International Conference on Children and Youth in MENA Cities: “Education, Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Youth for the Labour Market”

(Aleppo, Syria, 6–8 July 2009)

Abstract

The Fifth International Conference on Children and Youth in MENA Cities, organised by the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) and MENA Child Protection Initiative (MENA CPI), with the collaboration of Aleppo Municipality, Syria Trust for Development-SHABAB Project, UNICEF, and the World Bank, inaugurated by the Governor of Aleppo, Eng. Ali Ahmad Mansourah, gathered 26 speakers and 300 participants to share lessons learned and best practices related to vulnerable and marginalised children and youth in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. The conference aimed to share experiences from other countries regarding policies and programmes for children and youths and seek solutions and offer recommendations to curb socio-economic illnesses among children, especially street-children, and address youth employment and employability in the MENA region.