Events of the First Gulf Youth Conference on Prevention Against Road Accidents organized by the Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with Supreme Council for Family Affairs commenced in the morning of Sunday April 27th 2008, and due to be lasting for three days at Four Seasons Hotel with the participation of a number of delegations from GCC States, Iraq and Yemen with the a significant presence of Gulf young men, besides experts, educationists concerned with the topic

The Conference began with showing an awareness-raising documentary film containing an urgent message to Qatari and Gulf youth at large concerning mad driving, prepared by the Public Relations Directorate at the Ministry of the Interior. The documentary contained samples of road accidents resulting from driving of irresponsible youth which lead to the death of innocent by-standers, besides economic and social losses. The documentary, likewise, contained a tip from HE Sheikh Dr Yusuf Al-Qardhawi in which he called upon all youth to be careful during driving, confirming that reckless driving is considered one of the key causes of death, and he called upon the State to be strict about excessive driving that leads to fatal accidents

HE Mr Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, SCFA Secretary-General delivered an address in which he welcomed Their Excellencies the delegates of GCC States, Iraq and Yemen to their second home Qatar on the occasion of holding the First Gulf Conference on Prevention Against Road Accidents organized by the Ministry of the Interior in partnership with SCFA on basis of the joint interest and cooperation concerning traffic security and safety

HE said: Today, we in the Gulf States are confronted by the most prominent challenges embodied in the question of road accidents which lead to losses of family members in painful accidents, especially among youth, some of whom become life-long disabled persons. In the light of this tragic scene which displays the huge size of losses resulting from road accidents every year, SCFA undertook the initiative since 2004, by instructions of HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, SCFA President to launch a series of consecutive national campaigns to limit and prevent road accidents in collaboration with Traffic Directorate at the Ministry of the Interior in its capacity as an instrumental partner in addressing the problem, especially after it had become evident that the majority of victims are of the youth segment, the generation of tomorrow and the asset of the future. HE indicated that these campaigns continued over many years aiming at propagating traffic awareness in the community about road accidents and to promote safety and security. HE added that SCFA prepared a holistic study in 2006 on the results of traffic accidents to find radical solutions to them

HE pointed out that the problem of traffic accidents and youth is not merely a problem of traffic directorates in the Gulf States but its solution has become among the priorities of the governmental and non-governmental sectors due to this problem's social, economic and health dimensions. So the call is to all experts and researchers and youth to open a joint dialogue and let the motto be Gulf Without Accidents

HE expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of the Interior in the State of Qatar for its efforts exerted already and being exerted which led to the decrease in the number of road accidents and how this reflects the care of the State of Qatar for the human element in general and youth in particular in order to achieve a permanent development standing on firm bases on the top of which there is man

HE wished at the conclusion of his address that participants reach recommendations that contribute to achicving traffic safety and security

Staff Marshal Saad bin Jassim Al-Khulaifi, Traffic Director-General and Conference Organizing Committee Chair, in an address delivered on his behalf by Colonel Mohammed Saad Al-Khazrajji, Traffic and Patrols Director and Conference Organizing Committee Vice-Chair, expressed his wishes that the Conference would come out with the best results and recommendations to decrease the number of road accidents through awareness-raising programs conducted by governmental and non-governmental organizaions to prevent road accidents, and by means of lectures in schools and the Sealine Camp's educational programs with the collaboration of the media

He added that he wished to thank SCFA and Secretary-General Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Khalifa who took the initiative of making SCFA collaborate with the Ministry of the Interior in this Conference, out of the belief in the role of the family in the community and aiming at the joint efforts to achieve security and safety. In the end, HE Staff Marshal Saad bin Jassim Al-Khulaifi, HE Mr Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Khalifa and Colonel Mohammed Saad Al-Khazrajji opened the fair accompanying the Conference

The Conference will discuss the phenomenon of road accidents and the attempt to come out with solutions from the point of view of youth themselves and those concerned with the issue