Eighth OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women concludes in Mauerbach
Mauerbach, 25 September 2022
The 8th OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women, co-organized by the Mission in Kosovo and the Mission to Serbia, concluded on 25 September in Mauerbach, Austria. Twenty-four participants from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade attended the Academy.
The intensive 10-day leadership development programme focused on confidence building and networking among young women, and enhanced dialogue and exchanges. It aimed at strengthening participants’ capacities in key areas, such as gender equality, politics, negotiation and mediation, via thought-provoking discussions with distinguished lecturers and guests, which further strengthened the learning process.
Speakers and guests of the programme came from different fields, ranging from politics, civil society, activism and diplomacy, to business and media, from both Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade, but also from the Western Balkans region and beyond.
Participants had the opportunity to exchange with the Deputy Secretary General of the OSCE and Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC), Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä. She discussed with participants about the role of the CPC and its work in the OSCE region and emphasized the importance of including women at all levels and in all stages of mediation and dialogue processes in order to secure sustainable and lasting stability.
Ambassador Yrjölä also highlighted the importance of the OSCE’s work with and for young people, especially young women, and of developing and maintaining solidarity and trust across communities and societies for jointly overcoming present and future challenges.
Participants also visited the OSCE Secretariat and Hofburg, where they met with Ambassador Igor Djundev, Permanent Representative of North Macedonia to the OSCE, and the Permanent Representatives of Germany, Norway and EU, to learn about priorities, opportunities and challenges of the incoming Chair and about gender equality and diplomacy.
“My experience at the Dialogue Academy was eye-opening. I got to learn and grow in many different ways and I made lifelong friendships with women who truly inspire me,” said Leontina Gačić, a participant from Belgrade.
Dea Fetiu from Prishtinë/Priština shared her impressions from the programme: “The Dialogue Academy surpassed all of my expectations. I got to interact with fantastic people who will always hold a special place in my heart and I learned so much from the incredibly motivating women who were a part of it.”
During the programme, participants identified ideas of common interest, to be shaped and implemented under the scope of the Dialogue Academy Alumnae Network, supporting the role of young women in promoting peace-building and dialogue between and within both societies.
As a follow-up, participants will meet in November for an alumnae exchange visit to further develop their ideas and activities within the Dialogue Academy Alumnae Network, which now counts more than 180 members.
The Academy is organized annually under the auspices of the ‘Follow Us’ Initiative of prominent women from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština. The initiative has been supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia since 2012, as part of their work to enhance women's participation in dialogue, conflict resolution and decision-making processes.