Mediterranean Youth Council at UNOC: Reflections and Structured Dialogue with the EU Commissioner

The Mediterranean Youth Council (MYC) was proudly represented at the UN Ocean Conference 2025 by Carol Zakhour and Emilie Tamo Kamguia, who actively participated in the high-level Structured Dialogue between Young Mediterraneans and the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean on the European Pact for the Mediterranean. Held on June 10th at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen in Nice, this pivotal dialogue underscored the importance of engaging youth voices in shaping regional policies and tackling the Mediterranean’s most pressing challenges.

Advocacy for Peace and Inclusive Leadership

During the session, Carol and Emilie delivered a powerful joint intervention focused on "Promoting Peace and Stability in the Mediterranean Region."

• Emilie Tamo Kamguia addressed systemic barriers facing youth and women across the Mediterranean, including their widespread exclusion from leadership roles, persistent socio-economic inequalities, and the surge in hate speech and far-right narratives targeting vulnerable groups—particularly minorities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and migrants. She also raised concerns about climate-induced displacement, environmental degradation, and growing conflicts over natural resources.

  
  

• Carol Zakhour shared a deeply personal testimony, drawing from her experience as a youth and women’s rights advocate in Syria. She highlighted the repression, harassment, and marginalization she has endured, and criticized the entrenched exclusion of youth and women from Syria’s governance and post-conflict rebuilding processes.

  

Their intervention concluded with a call to action directed at the European Union, including the following key demands:

1. Ensure meaningful youth participation in policymaking processes, with an emphasis on the inclusion of marginalized voices.

2. Uphold youth rights by safeguarding access to education, employment, and justice, and by protecting young activists at risk.

3. Invest in cross-Mediterranean youth exchange programs and long-term cooperation initiatives that foster dialogue, solidarity, and counter hate speech.

   
   

The European Commissioner responded with evident attentiveness and respect, addressing the points raised one by one and affirming that the youth delegation’s recommendations were being carefully documented and considered. This response reflected a commendable commitment to inclusive policymaking and engagement with youth stakeholders.

Audience members reacted positively to the intervention, emphasizing the urgency of protecting peacebuilders, especially those operating in conflict and post-conflict zones, and reaffirming the critical nature of the points raised.

La Baleine

Following the dialogue, MYC representatives participated in Booth Animation at “La Baleine.”

• Emilie introduced the Mediterranean Youth Council’s mission, membership base, regional scope, and key activities, underscoring the Council’s role in promoting youth engagement across the Mediterranean.

• Carol delivered a presentation on “The Environmental Impact of War Zones in the Southern Mediterranean Region,” shedding light on an often-overlooked consequence of armed conflict.

• The team then screened MYC’s impactful short film on the environmental consequences of fast fashion, which resonated strongly with the audience.

  
  

This visibility segment sparked meaningful conversations, and several attendees expressed interest in joining MYC, following the open call for new members. This highlights the effectiveness of combining advocacy with accessible education and community outreach.