Will the World Youth Forum tackle sensitive issues that are important to the youth? So far, it seems more likely that the forum will focus on topics that everyone — including the government — can agree are important, such as giving the youth a chance to contribute their thoughts and ideas to the development of their countries, Al Shorouk’s Abdullah El Sennawy writes. However, there are other important issues that would give the forum its true value if tackled, including the youth’s disillusionment with the democratic process and the lack of public freedoms, El Sennawy says. As it currently stands, he says, the forum seems to be an attempt to paint a rosy picture of life for Egypt’s youth with an added bonus of stimulating tourism.

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