Hala Arafa - Beth:

The young Saudi woman, Razan Farhan Al-Aqeel, representing the youth of civil society in the Middle East and North Africa, spoke at the Security Council session on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.

Razan Al-Aqeel began her speech by saying: "I greet you today with "peace be upon you" from the youth of the Arab world, and I am honored today to be among you to greet you with a message of hope and peace."

Al-Aqeel added, "I am one of more than 100 million young men and women from the Middle East and North Africa, the largest generation of young people in history around the world, and 60% of the total population of the Arab world."

Al-Aqeel stressed the importance of youth participation in implementing the UN's priorities in the three main areas: "maintaining international peace and security; economic, social and political development; and fundamental freedoms and good governance."

The young Saudi woman pointed out that all these elements are interlinked with each other to achieve the mainstay of international multilateral action and the lost international security.

She went on to say: "We, the generation of Arab youth, send a message to the generation of leaders here in the hall (the Security Council) and the world, which is to include young people in active participation in peacekeeping towards building the future."

 In her speech before the Security Council, the young Saudi woman affirmed a number of recommendations:

First, the participation of young people in all stages of UN action, from preventive diplomacy to early warning, conflict prevention, conflict management, peacekeeping, conflict resolution in peace negotiations, peacebuilding after conflict, and in achieving peace sustainability and ensuring no return to conflicts.

Secondly, the need to work on settling the main Arab challenges before the Security Council, which exhaust the energies of the Arab world, so that we can direct financial and human resources towards development.

Third, youth participation in the implementation of the United Nations priorities in the three main areas (mentioned above).

Fourth, promoting youth participation in the formulation of national and regional policies and plans through clear mechanisms for Arab and international action and the importance of youth participation

Fifthly, the participation of youth is not complete without the participation of women in all efforts.

Razan Farhan Al-Aqeel addressed the members of the Security Council by saying: "We are your children, and the decisions that included us confirm your belief in our capabilities and their implementation is in providing opportunities for effective participation in decision-making in our societies towards development in preparing us to lead the future."

Razan Al-Aqeel concluded her speech by sending a message to the Arab youth, stressing that she conveyed their message in all honesty, saying: "My brothers and sisters, the youth of the Arab world, I carried your voice on my chest, and I conveyed this message from you today here in the United Nations Security Council."