Young experts from Western Balkans discuss prevention of violent extremism at workshop convened by OSCE Austrian Chairmanship
SARAJEVO, 25 April 2017 – A group of 12 young people from the Western Balkans region participated in a two-day workshop and discussed their role in prevention of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, which concluded today in Sarajevo.
“We recognize that youth are simultaneously the group most vulnerable to violent radicalization and the group that has the greatest potential to prevent and counter it,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Jonathan Moore. “We want to empower youth, not only to shun the messages propounded by violent extremist groups, but also to actively and publicly condemn them and call for tolerance and mutual understanding.”
The participants discussed ways to use social media and design campaigns that could help them to effectively respond to the identified drivers and manifestations of violent extremism in their countries.
Samet Shabani from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia said: “We conduct evidence-based research, and talk to people on the ground, but we have very limited access to policy. This workshop helps us reach decision makers as well as network with our peers in the region.”
Professor Peter Neumann, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism said: “It is vitally important that civil society gets involved in combatting those who want to destroy peace and replace democracy with extremism. In the Balkans, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular, this is more important than ever in order to prevent some of the old fault lines which have divided people from re-emerging.”
The recommendations resulting from the workshop will be presented to all the participating States and the OSCE Partners for Co-operation at the 2017 OSCE Counter-Terrorism Conference on 23 and 24 May 2017 in Vienna.
The event was organized by the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship, with the support of the OSCE Mission to BiH, under the umbrella of the OSCE United in Countering Violent Extremism campaign (#UnitedCVE).