The opening session of the 8th Mediterranean University on Youth and Global Citizenship took place on, 27 June at the Centre de Vacances et de Loisirs pour Enfants in Hammamet, Tunisia, where over 100 young people are attending 5 parallel activities and 5 plenary sessions to exchange and learn about digital safety.
The official opening had the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Tunisia, Mr. Sadok Mourali, the Governor of Nabeul, Ms. Hana Choucheni, the North-South Center Executive Director, and regional coordinator of the neighbourhood policy with the Southern Mediterranean, Ms. Pilar Morales, the Director General of the National Youth Observatory, Mr. Foued Ouni, and the MedUni coordinator, Ms. Ana Plavsic. All speakers exchanged about the importance of the annual theme – Empowering youth for digital safety – for strong communities and the importance of international cooperation and intercultural dialogue for real change and lasting impact. The minister of Youth and Sports highlighted the importance of the topic for youth in Tunisia and around the Mediterranean and shared some of the initiatives by the Tunisian Government that support digital safety of young people.
The opening was preceded by an expert discussion, where young participants had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Council of Europe's legal instruments and tools for strengthening digital safety, exploring Council of Europe Conventions and youth-related initiatives.
Ms. Denise Mazzolani, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tunis, presented the Budapest Convention as an important international tool in the fight against cybercrime – the 2024 North-South Conference, and the resulting Kotor Declaration, drew heavily from the document, particularly its second additional protocol. Ms. Imen Bahri and Ms. Houda Cherif, project officers at the Council of Europe Office in Tunis, shared some highlights from the Lanzarote convention and Treaty 108, powerful instruments combating offenses against children and personal data violations, respectively. Finally, Márcio Barcelos, project officer at the North-South Centre, presented the HEY programme to the audience, as an opportunity to learn more about these and other instruments to act for human rights and rule of law.
The 8th MedUni is organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, in collaboration with the National Youth Observatory of Tunisia and in partnership with the Italian Youth Council and the Mediterranean Forum for Youth – Morocco.
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