DOHA: The countdown has begun for the inaugural Doha Youth Forum on Crime and Criminal Justice, being organised this month by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) in collaboration with the Organising Committee of the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The forum is the first of its kind in the Middle East and will be held over three days from April 9 at Qatar National Convention Centre. It has been timed to precede the UN congress that will be held from April 12 to 19.
The forum is a unique initiative launched by Qatar to engage young people on issues related to crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as familiarise them with the role of the UN and its functions. It will also discuss student issues in the region and challenges faced by communities in fighting and preventing crime.
It will also suggest practical solutions to issues of criminal justice. The student delegates will role-play the UN congress as part of the forum to discuss three themes.
The first addresses successes and challenges in implementing comprehensive crime prevention, criminal justice policies and strategies to promote the rule of law at national and international level, and support sustainable development. The second questions national approaches to public participation in strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice.
The final theme will engage young participants on their responses to evolving forms of crime such as cybercrime and trafficking in cultural property, including lessons learned and international cooperation.
After the forum, selected students will be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present the findings and chosen recommendations from their summit to the UN congress a few days later.
The UN congress is held every five years.
Its purpose is to encourage the exchange of ideas between international government institutions, non-governmental organisations, criminologists and experts with related specialists.
In this way, the congress provides an opportunity to share experience in the fields of research, law and policy development, as well as explore new ideas in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice.
Students and organisers are completing final preparations for the event to ensure that participants’ voices is brought to the forefront at the forum.
Following the announcement of the event, QF received 185 applications from students at universities across Qatar. Some 123 Qatari and international participants have been selected, principally between the ages of 16 and 26. The Peninsula
