Jeddah (UNA) – The Director General of the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), Professor Mohammed bin Abdulrab Al-Yami, stressed that the large demographic weight of the youth category in the OIC countries, and their close connection with the media, require these media to be a fundamental entry point for comprehensive approaches that enable young people to enjoy their rights in various fields.
This came during his participation in the panel discussion “The Role of National Human Rights Institutions and the Media in Protecting the Rights of Youth,” as part of the work of the twenty-sixth session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, which was held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, under the title: “Youth Development in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Opportunities from a Human Rights Perspective.”
In the paper he presented, Al-Yami stressed that the importance of the role of the media is increasing in member states where the youth represent a large segment of society, according to statistics and reports issued by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), indicating that this demographic reality, coupled with the great connection of youth to the media, makes the media a key tool for enabling them to exercise their political, economic, social and cultural rights.
He explained that the role of the media in this context is embodied in four main areas:
First: Civic and community participation: Al-Yami pointed out that the media is an essential element in building a vibrant public space for communication, noting that the suffering of young people in a number of member states from challenges related to community participation calls for the media, especially new media through digital platforms and social networks, to play an active role in promoting their positive engagement in public affairs, by intensifying content directed at them and designed according to their aspirations and interests.
He emphasized the importance of media outlets understanding and conveying youth priorities to decision-makers, thereby contributing to their participation in designing and adapting public policies and services to their needs. He also stressed the importance of raising awareness among young people about development and social programs offered by member states, such as grants, soft loans, and entrepreneurship funding, and ensuring they understand how to access these programs. Furthermore, he highlighted the educational role of media in educating youth about relevant public policies and laws, thereby strengthening their commitment to them. He noted the importance of cooperation between media outlets and national human rights institutions in this regard.
He also highlighted the educational role of the media in informing young people about government and public policies and raising their awareness of laws, particularly those that concern them, to ensure their compliance. In this regard, cooperation between the media and national human rights societies becomes crucial.
– The second area (employment and skills development):
Al-Yami pointed out that young people often face challenges in transitioning from education to the labor market. Official statistics indicate that the youth labor force participation rate in member states does not exceed 37.4%, which is low compared to the global average of 40.1%. Given this situation, media outlets in member states can play a pivotal role in educating young people about the labor market and its emerging fields, the academic specializations that align with these fields, and the most important skills and knowledge that young people should master to enhance their chances in a competitive job market.
He explained that through the media, educational content designed to transfer professional skills to young people can also be passed on, noting the growing trend in new media in a number of member states to enhance the media presence of young entrepreneurs, showcasing their different experiences, and sharing their professional expertise with young people.
He added, “The media can also play the role of mediator between decision-makers and labor market actors on the one hand, and young people on the other, by hosting and organizing programs with the participation of both sides to discuss the most prominent issues and exchange ideas on enhancing job opportunities for young people.”
The Director General of UNA also stressed the need for media outlets to enhance the presence of young people in their various sectors, especially editorial sectors, to ensure that the youth's point of view is conveyed and their voice reaches decision-makers.
– The third area (public health):
Al-Yami said that young people also suffer from public health challenges, as they are more susceptible than others to being affected by some unhealthy lifestyles, and they are more susceptible than others to falling prey to electronic addiction in its various forms, such as excessive practice of video games and the like. He pointed out that the media should play an active role in promoting young people’s awareness of health risks and educating them about preventing them, in addition to ensuring that its content is generally appropriate for the youth category in terms of content.
This means being cautious about broadcasting media content that is psychologically and morally harmful to young people, including content that promotes violence and extremism, or ideas that contradict religious values and social norms. It also means ensuring the dissemination of healthy practices and adhering to regulations and standards regarding restrictions on advertising content that might encourage unhealthy eating habits or lifestyles among adolescents and young adults.
He stressed that building a well-adjusted and psychologically and morally stable young person is the essential element in forming a vibrant and prosperous society, and the media, as the main intermediary for conveying concepts and ideas, is required more than others to play a positive and responsible role in this aspect to educate young people about harmful health practices, and to protect them against misguided and deviant ideas.
– Fourth area (Youth in vulnerable situations):
In this context, he addressed the difficult humanitarian conditions faced by many young people in member states due to wars, displacement, and refuge. He stressed that, given these circumstances, the media is obligated to highlight these conditions in order to encourage national and international responses and build public solidarity with young people. To achieve this, the media should adopt a humanitarian approach inspired by relevant international charters, conventions, and agreements. He also noted the immense sacrifices made by Palestinian youth in the face of the Israeli war of extermination and their remarkable efforts to alleviate the suffering of their people and amplify their voices to the world.
Al-Yami pointed out that the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is keen to adapt many of its media programs to the needs of young people in member states. He explained that in this regard, it has worked to provide many training courses for young media professionals, and during Expo Dubai, from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, in cooperation with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), it organized a special training program for young media professionals from member states, which allowed them to attend this global event and learn about the latest developments in the media industry and the opportunities it provides. In September 2025, in cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Sports, it organized an international symposium entitled “Empowering Youth in OIC Member States through Video Games and Social Media: Opportunities and Challenges,” which discussed the risks associated with these games and ways to address them, in addition to the possibility of employing them in supporting youth empowerment paths, highlighting investment and economic opportunities in the field, and integrating them into development programs and empowering young talents.
In the same context, he pointed out that the Union played an active media and organizational role in the deliberations of the World Conference: “Girls’ Education in Muslim Societies,” which was organized by the Muslim World League in cooperation with the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad during the period of January 12-13, 2025. On the sidelines of the conference, the Union signed memoranda of understanding with organizations and universities to support efforts to empower girls in the Islamic world to enjoy their right to education. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to achieve the common goals of the two bodies in building institutional and human capacities in the field of human rights and related issues, and promoting awareness of the global human rights culture in accordance with Islamic concepts.
He concluded by emphasizing the Union’s general commitment, in its media content, to highlighting the efforts of member states in protecting human rights, including the rights of young people, and empowering them at various economic, educational and social levels.
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