The American University in Cairo

The second edition of the Safe and Inclusive Campuses in the Arab Region Conference was led by The American University in Cairo (AUC) in partnership with UNESCO, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Lebanese American University, New York University Abu Dhabi and Mansoura University. The conference convened experts, educators, students and key stakeholders from across Arab higher education institutions and NGOs for focused, action-oriented discussions on advancing safer and more inclusive campuses across the region. The December 2025 conference highlights included: 1. The launch of UNESCO’s Toolkit on Combating Violence Against Women and Girls in Arab Higher Education Systems 2. Emerging and evolving threats to campus safety in the region 3. Advancing inclusion, belonging and equity across academic and student-life spaces 4. Student engagement and shared responsibility in creating safe campuses 5. Mental health, trauma-informed care and survivor-centered support 6. The expansion of a growing regional network committed to safer campuses