9 March 2022 – On the first day of the 16th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), held in Dubai, the 3rd Standing Committee held its discussions on Dialogue among Civilizations and Human Rights.
The discussions were introduced by President of this Standing Committee, Hon. Sandrine Mörch (France).
Several keynote speakers addressed the session, including H.E. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Gomm’a (Egypt), Minister of Endowments (al-Awqaf), Ms. Kristina Mejo, IOM Deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Mr. Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR Senior Advisor and Representative to the GCC, and Hon. Dehrar Humaid Belhoul (UAE), PAM Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict.
In his speech, Prof. Gomm’a underlined the importance of peaceful co-existence. He noted that religion is the art of creating life, adding: “let’s live together not die together.”
Hon. Abou El Enein, PAM President Emeritus and Vice-President of the Egyptian parliament briefed the Assembly on his participation in the 4th World Youth Forum that took place on 11 January 2022, in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt).
Following the addresses, Sen. Irina Elisabeta Kovács (Romania) presented the report and resolution on “The obstacles to Education in the PAM region. Good practices in action”, to the Assembly. A preliminary parliamentary debate followed before the Assembly voted on the resolution.
The report on education in the Mediterranean region stressed that young people are still dropping out of school at an early stage in our region, despite the progress achieved in recent years. The report also underlined the need to provide migrant children access to education, whether they are on the move or in host countries. The report also highlighted the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, especially for those lacking access to digital technology, who could not attend classes remotely. The pandemic offered an opportunity to take stock of the improvements needed in each one of our educational systems by implementing inclusive education catering for the specific needs of students with learning disabilities or the ones faced with difficulties.
A second presentation on the report and resolution on migration, entitled “A Mediterranean commitment ahead of the 2022 review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)” followed, presented by Sen. Marie-Arlette Carlotti (France).
The Mediterranean region is a migratory crossroads with too many deaths in its waters. PAM is strongly committed to the implementation of the GCM. This report focused on objectives 8, 2, 15, 4, 10 and 17 of the GCM. It stressed the importance of ensuring full respect of the human rights of migrants. It also highlighted the need for policy makers to address human trafficking appropriately. The fight against racism and all forms of discrimination is never-ending. Thus, constant effort is required to raise awareness of, fight against, reject, and combat all forms and expressions of racial violence.
Both PAM resolutions were adopted.