About 1000 future leaders from around the world met to discuss topics such as political leadership, global health, interfaith dialogue, global business, the media and the environment. A total of 192 countries were represented. This is the first time the conference has been held.
Joined on stage by US poverty eradication activist John Hope Bryant and Finnish professor of philosophy Pekka Himanen, the Norwegian Crown Prince spoke on the topic of dignity. He said: “If we look at the great leaders throughout the ages, such as Mother Teresa and Gandhi, we see that they all had one thing in common: The desire to confer dignity on others. By enhancing other people’s dignity, we also enhance our own.”
The conference began on 8 February with presentations by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and peace activist Sir Bob Geldof. The following day, the delegates attended sessions guided by current world leaders such as former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former President of Peru Alejandro Toledo and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
In addition to Crown Prince Haakon, Norway was represented by Bushra Ishaq, leader of the Muslim Student Association of Norway, and Ingeborg Gjærum, former leader of the environmental organisation for youth “Natur og Ungdom”.