The QatarDebate Centre (QDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, convened the second Debaters for Change Roundtables, in continuation of its endeavour to empower youth and engage them in deliberating some of the foremost global issues, an undertaking that marked the current session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The event came as a natural extension of the success achieved by the inaugural round held during the same period last year, which explored the trajectories of international co-operation, and the Pact for the Future adopted at the Summit of the Future.
The event convened more than 150 young debaters and adjudicators from over 40 American and Canadian universities.
The initiative drilled down on fostering a culture of dialogue and critical thinking through youth-led deliberations that grappled with global and regional issues tied to their collective future, contributing to a deeper understanding of the formidable challenges confronting societies.
It further provided a safe space for the unfettered exchange of perspectives, shining a spotlight on the role of young people as catalysts for shaping global policies and as architects of constructive change, through effective dialogue and the building of bridges of understanding across cultures.
In the spirit of nurturing constructive dialogue and broadening the aperture of strategic thinking, three roundtable sessions convened experts, decision-makers, and young intellectuals from a host of countries to probe the pressing themes of progressive education, social inclusion, and global governance.
The first panel centred on progressive education and the avenues for refining educational systems to keep up with the demands of the future while enhancing students’ capacity for innovation and critical thought.
Participants affirmed that investment in education represents a direct investment in a more equitable and sustainable future.
The second panel, held under the theme Supporting civil society initiatives to strengthen social cohesion, revisited the precepts of social inclusion enshrined in the 1995 Copenhagen Summit, reimagining them in light of present-day transformations.
Discussions confronted the challenges stemming from social, economic, and cultural disparities, and tabled proposals to bolster equality and fair opportunity, stressing the indispensable role of civil society and sound public policy in building more inclusive communities.
The third panel was devoted to addressing the mounting challenges of global governance amid intensifying humanitarian and environmental crises and a widening chasm between North and South.
It underscored the urgent need to flip the script from lofty pledges and cosmetic initiatives to tangible practices that deliver justice in the allocation of resources and ensure access to technology, education, and healthcare.
The discussion further stressed the imperative of amplifying the representation of developing nations in global decision-making centres and of integrating youth into the design of governance systems that are more inclusive and responsive to the exigencies of the future.
The deliberations distilled into a set of recommendations, chief among them: restructuring selected mechanisms of global governance to make them more pluralistic and inclusive, reinforcing North-South co-operation on a basis of fairness, and supporting youth-driven initiatives that pioneer innovative solutions to global challenges.
The panellists voiced their aspiration to construct a world more just, advanced, and harmonious, affirming that young people are not merely partners in the future but leaders in the present, wielding the capacity to drive development and engineer constructive change.
They emphasised that granting them the space to articulate their visions constitutes an investment in a brighter tomorrow.
This initiative falls within the QDC’s broader commitment to empowering young people with the tools of expression and influence, positioning them as active stakeholders in shaping future policies both within their societies and on the global stage.
