The first Doha Youth Forum on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened yesterday (April 7) with the participation of 120 students from 35 nationalities.

Organised by Qatar Foundation in collaboration with the Preparatory Committee of the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the three-day event was inaugurated by Qatar’s Minister for Youth and Sports Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali at Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha.

The forum, the first initiative by the government of Qatar targeting the youth in the history of UN Crime Congresses, is being held prior to 13th UN Crime Congress set to run from April 12 to 19.

Students will discuss the same subjects of the UN Crime congress. The recommendations of the Forum will be presented during the UN Crime Congress.

"The Doha Youth Forum is a unique initiative and the first of its kind in the history of the UN Crime Congress presented by the state of Qatar to engage youth on issues and challenges that the existing and future society face especially in the fields of education and health,” said Al Ali.

Speaking in the inaugural ceremony, the Princess of Thailand Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol said: “The rule of law has a direct link with sustainable development and legal stability provides growth and attracts foreign and domestic investment. We should develop the rule of law in order to prevent corruption and international organized crime.”

Children are most vulnerable to violence; however violence is not just physical but can also be physiological like bullying and many forms of negligence, the princess noted.

“This forum in Doha is very important as the youth are the future, and should be involved in the justice system from strategies to simple ideas. Education is a fundamental right, as education as well as poverty has a direct link with children violence and juvenile delinquency and it will also prevent the youth from developing,” she added.

Speaking in the opening session, Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al Nasr, the UN High Representative for Alliance of Civilizations said that the history had taught us that the youth can lead the change and the Mena region is not aloof of this fact.

But the young generation of this region were not given equal and fair opportunities and appropriate conditions to lead the transformations experienced by the region, he said.

"The young people have the ability, energy, creativity and values for making creative social change and this needs quality education, health services and suitable jobs according to the capacities of each of them. The opportunity given by Qatar Foundation to the youth is a vital and important initiative,” Al Nasr said.

He also pointed out that the United Nations believes that the young people are not only the leaders of the future, but also the leaders of today, who can prepare for the future and they are those affected by rapidly changing world. At the same time, we depend on them to make the future a safer and stable one.

He added that Alliance of Civilization Dialogues act as a protective method to fulfil the crime prevention & criminal justice. “We aim to have youth taking responsibilities and being innovative resolving the current challenges”, he added.

Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, permanent representative of Qatar to the United Nations, highlighted that the 13th UN Congress brings much importance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Congresses on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, where the conference will provide a unique opportunity to the youth to meet with world leaders.

They will be able to take part in discussions, and forward proposals for action according to three main themes; consolidate the criminal justice system as a central pillar in the structure of the rule of law, to highlight the central role of the criminal justice system in the development agenda beyond 2015, and thirdly to emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach for reforming the criminal justice system to strengthen the capacity of Criminal justice systems in dealing with crime, said Al-Thani. – TradeArabia News Service