Press release: UN Women and the World Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre partnership puts youth in the lead for a gender equal region
Date:
Cairo, 30 January 2020 - The UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States and the World Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre in Cairo signed a memorandum of understanding to promote gender equality and contribute to the development of young people from the region in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their national and regional communities.
Under this partnership, the two organizations will work together on the elaboration of a regional strategy for the Scouting movement in the Arab States as a champion for gender equality, and will develop educational materials and initiatives for Scouts to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across the region. Cascading from the regional strategy, the partnership will also strengthen ties at the national level through collaboration between in-country partners on projects that respond to the specific needs of young people.
Studies conducted by UN Women and its partners indicate that young people have an important role to play in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Arab States region, for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In 2020, the global community marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Platform, which is recognized as the most ambitious and wide-ranging charter for women’s rights and their participation in development. The Generation Equality campaign will highlight the role of civil society, including youth, to accelerate implementation of the Beijing Platform and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Scouting movement is a vital partner to this effort in the Arab States region.
Signing the MOU, Ms. Janneke van der Graaff-Kukler, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women for the Arab States said, “UN Women is proud to partner with the World Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre to unleash the change that young people can bring about to challenge outdated social norms and misconceptions that continue to drive gender inequalities”.
Signing the MOU on behalf of the World Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre, Mr. Amr Hamdy Regional Director said, “we are calling upon our country offices and more than 5 million Scouts in the Arab States region to be champions of gender equality and girls and women’s empowerments. Boy Scouts are solving local challenges and can inspire others to take action to make the Arab States a gender-equal region.”
About UN Women Arab States:
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life, and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality.
About the Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre:
The Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre is comprised of 19 National Scout Organizations in the Arab States Region, representing over 5 million young people with similar ideals of movement building, a regional voice and an ability to engage younger audiences. Scouting provides young people with opportunities to participate in programmes, events, activities and projects that contribute to their growth as active citizens. Through these initiatives, young people become agents of positive change who inspire others to take action to make the Arab States a gender-equal region.
About World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
Scouting is the world’s leading educational youth movement, engaging millions of young people to be active citizens and create positive change in their communities. The World Scout Movement is made up of more than 50 million Scouts connected together through a membership network of 171 National Scout Organizations.
Contact for media inquiries, UN Women:
Emad Karim,
Programme Specialist, Advocacy & Innovation
UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States
Tel: +20 2 276 87400, ext. 70415
Cell: +2 01006797585
Email: [ Click to reveal ]
Contact for media inquiries, Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre:
Nourhan Gamil,
Communication Manager
World Scout Bureau Arab Support Centre
Tel: +20224014267
Cell: +201124277776
E-mail: nour.gamil@scout.org