YouTube: https://youtu.be/NpXJmmBcHws
The Side Event was opened by Dr. Maria RIEHL, Director WFWP UN Vienna Office,
DPR Mr. Zoilo VELASCO, Consul General Philippine Embassy;
Mr. Velasco highlighted the value of education not only as a provider of knowledge but as an enabler of a just society, important for crime prevention and peace building. Recognising that inequality due to poor socio-economic conditions often lies at the root of crime, Mr Velasco argued that education offers a proactive solution by promoting social responsibility and respect for human rights and the rule of law; this enables youth to resist the lure of criminal activity. Education also empowers future generations to make meaningful contributions to society.
Dr. Maria - Gabriela TOMASINI, MD, Anaesthetist, Venezuela, Dr. Tomasini is most interested in the development of the human brain. The cerebral cortex develops through the input that comes from outside. Therefore education is of utmost importance and influencing the human brain. It lays the ground for the lifestyle one pursues as a young person continuing into adulthood.
Dr. Susan KONE, President of WFWP Kenya, Social Work and Community development,
THE IMPACT OF CHARACTER EDUCATION:
The WFWP Kenya chapter has been holding character education in several schools:
- More than 600 students receive this education every year
-The school administration appreciates the positive impact that the education has on their students
-This includes general good behaviour and also improvement of overall school grades
-It creates a conducive environment for learners and teachers
…..
The feedbacks from community leaders are that many of the youths have positively changed their life styles and navigate their lives without being involved drug & alcohol abuse or other criminal activities.
Dr. Wadih MAALOUF, UNODC-Family United- Universal Family Skills Programme, Wadih Maalouf holds a PhD in Epidemiology (Mental Health and Drugs). He joined UNODC to support the health response to drugs in the Middle East and North Africa, later the Prevention Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, coordinating the family skills programming. A contributor to the UNODC WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, participated in the WHO guidance development group leading to the development of the WHO Guidelines on parenting interventions to prevent maltreatment and enhance parent child relationships with children aged 0-17 years:
The UNODC- Crime Prevention in strengthening resilience of children and youth to help the fight against transnational organised crime in reducing the loopholes of resilience where crime can come in and criminal activity might start. Prevention starts with the person and the circumstances this person lives in: Family and education is key, but there is also a wider multisectoral factor that plays a role: C.H.A.M.P.S. is a whole system of approaches to support healthy child development.
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Steven AIELLO, founder of Debate for Peace. He has been involved in Jewish Arab
Model UN work in Israel since 2011 and has run over 30 conferences and 20 international youth delegations. Steven is Jewish, Israeli and Italian-American. Project Officer and Dialog Expert at “Asfar”, regional director for Creating Friendships for Peace and Writers Matter.. He helps produce an Israeli- Palestinian peace podcast (The other Side), and coedited The Write Path, an anthology of writing by Israeli and Palestinian youth following October 7th, https://debateforpeace.org/
Mr. Aiello presented a video about a writing program with the purpose to create empathy among youth on both sides: Jewish- Arabic, and others, by telling each others family Stories. So that these young people find determination to create a society of togetherness in the future!
Watching this video brought tears to the eyes of many!
Ms. Marlies Ladstätter Youth and Students for Peace Representative, explained how tackling crime requires both: Police effort and a societal approach based on volunteerism. Volunteerism means people collaborate to support the common good of the community through programs promoting social cohesion and empowerment to reduce crime.
She described volunteer mentoring programs offering at-risk youth meaning and purpose in their lives, providing a sense of belonging; teaching life skills they are opening doors to new opportunities. The ripple effect of volunteerism strengthens the entire community, leading to shared responsibility and a culture with strong social cohesion, making crime a rarity, and enabling all to thrive through collaborative efforts
for the common good.
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