Brussels, Belgium – September 7–9, 2012 – Zakaria El Hamel, founder and president of Youth for Peace & Dialogue Between Cultures, joined an elite group of youth delegates from 30 countries at the 9th Annual International Human Rights Youth Summit, held at the International Auditorium in the heart of Brussels. Selected from over 1,000 applicants for his outstanding contributions to human rights advocacy, peacebuilding, and intercultural dialogue, El Hamel networked with global peers, honed essential skills in public speaking and organization, and forged plans to amplify youth-led initiatives worldwide.
The summit, organized by Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), underscored the enduring urgency of human rights amid stark global realities: undernutrition claims five million children under five annually (UN World Food Program), 150 million children aged 5–14 endure child labor (UNICEF), and 2.4 million people fell victim to human trafficking from 1995–2005 (International Labor Organization). Despite the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these crises demand renewed action—through education as the cornerstone of reform.
El Hamel, a dynamic Moroccan peace activist, actively participated in workshops, an interfaith conference, and a vibrant procession of flags, drawing parallels between the summit’s focus on human rights education and his organization’s mission to empower youth across cultures. “This gathering in Brussels—the seat of European institutions—reinforced that youth voices can bridge divides and drive systemic change,” El Hamel stated. “As founder of Youth for Peace & Dialogue Between Cultures, I connected with leaders from Sri Lanka, Russia, Ecuador, and beyond to expand our collaborative efforts in human rights advocacy and event coordination.”
