Dead Sea Forum 2006

The third annual Forum for the Future was held at the Dead Sea, Jordan, on November 30 and December 1, 2006. The Forum, co-hosted by the governments of Jordan and Russia, focused on political and economic empowerment, with particular focus on young people and women. Governments and civil society representatives addressed topics such as:

• Political participation, elections, and media
• Independent judiciary
• Legal environment for civil society
• Transparency and corruption
• Women's empowerment
• Youth engagement
• Educational and economic opportunity

Since its inaugural meeting three years ago, the Forum and the activities it has generated have quietly advanced a rich agenda for political, economic and educational reform. This agenda is not the exclusive purview of governments. Six civil society organizations participated in 2004. This year, over 50 umbrella groups representing hundreds of NGOs and thousands of men and women working for reform took part.

The Forum for the Future brought Arab civil society representatives together with foreign ministers and other leaders from the broader Middle East, the G8, and Europe. Secretary Rice also held bilateral meetings with leaders such as Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

While in Jordan for the Forum for the Future, Secretary Rice participated in a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council + 2, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan.

--12/01/06  2006 Forum for the Future Chairman’s Summary  PDF version   
--12/01/06  Remarks to 2006 Forum for the Future ; Secretary Condoleezza Rice; Dead Sea, Jordan