HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), announced that the Sixth Edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017) will focus on forging partnerships between governments and society towards supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Addressing a press conference at Sharjah's Al Majaz Amphitheatre to announce the details of this year's Forum, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said the event will run from March 22 to 23 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Headlined Societal Participation Comprehensive Development', the annual forum will see the participation of around 2,500 leading local and international government officials, media experts, thought leaders, and government communication professionals.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: Since the launch of the IGCF, its agenda and goals have always revolved around development in line with the UAE's strategic direction and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi. The Forum will leverage best practices in raising public awareness about sustainable development, and explore means that government communication departments can use to support the efforts of their countries in addressing key challenges.
He added: The Sixth Edition of IGCF will pay particular attention to enhancing the spirit of community partnership and instilling a sense of responsibility in the present and future generations towards their countries and humanity at large. In addition, it will highlight successful approaches that government communication practitioners adopt to drive public opinion towards a proactive response to current global issues and to make people an integral part of the solutions. We emphasise the importance of partnerships between governments and all segments of society in overcoming development challenges. Such partnerships form an integral part of people's social responsibility towards the advancement of their countries.
In closing, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: For the first time in the history of the Forum, its sessions and events will involve all members of the public including children, the youth, and persons with disabilities in the search for solutions to issues facing sustainable development. They will also engage media personalities and government communication professionals in enhancing awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and explore best international practices that have had a positive influence on public opinion.
Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Media Centre, introduced the agenda of this year's Forum. Ahead of the official inauguration of the event, the first session will discuss Communication for Development (C4D) and Community Partnership'. Highlighting the purposes and goals of C4D programmes and ways of implementing them, the session will also touch upon the topic of forming a true community partnership through raising awareness about its importance and objectives.
The session will host HE Najla bint Mohammad Al Awar, UAE Minister of Community Development, Kailash Satyarthi, acclaimed children's rights activist and joint recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, and Najla Al Midfa, General Manager of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa).
Entitled The Public and Private Sectors: Real Partnership towards Sustainable Development', the second session will put the role of government communication in creating a culture of community partnership under the spotlight. It will explore ways of instilling a sense of responsibility towards global issues that have a local impact across social segments. The session will also highlight the important role of government partnerships with the private sector in addressing global humanitarian and environmental issues, and their impact on international peace and stability.
Speakers will include HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Jeffrey Sachs, renowned development economist and former Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises.
The third session, titled Environment and Climate Change in Media Policies', will discuss mechanisms of building a common ground for media organisations to enhance their collaboration with the public and private sectors. It will highlight the importance of raising public environmental awareness and the urgent need to integrate the topic into school curricula. In addition, it will examine ways of reinforcing the role of the media in lobbying for governments to adopt laws and regulations to protect the environment.
The session will witness the participation of HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment, HE Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister of Finland, Khaled Issa Al Huraimel, CEO of Bee'ah, and Safa' Al Jayoussi, Founder and Executive Director of IndyACT in Jordan and Head of Climate and Energy Campaign in Arab World.
Day one of the Forum will also feature a panel discussion titled Climate Change Are There Real Solutions?', moderated by HE Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah. The panel will host Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and Founder and Chairman of The Climate Reality Project.
The debate will focus on climate change and ways of reinforcing the commitment of governments, industries, official and civil organisations, and communities at large to sustainable development and related legislation. It will also highlight sanctions to be imposed on companies and countries
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HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), announced that the Sixth Edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017) will focus on forging partnerships between governments and society towards supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
