OSCE-supported Central Asian Youth Network opens to support the “Energy of Youth”

ASTANA, 28 June 2017 – The eleventh annual OSCE Central Asian Youth Network (CAYN) seminar began today on the premises of ForteBank’s head office in Astana.

The four-day event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana for some 45 university students and CAYN alumni from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. Other OSCE regional field missions provided support for the event and representatives of the OSCE as well as expert speakers from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and leading representatives of the private sector and the World Bank are taking part.

The topic of this year’s seminar, “Energy of Youth”, was selected to reflect the theme of Expo 2017, “Future Energy.” In addition to learning about renewable energy and environmental protection, the participants will discuss the key challenges to comprehensive security in Central Asia and beyond and explore ways to address them in their communities and together with neighbouring countries. They will also address the issue of civil society’s role in protecting human rights and re-examine co-operation within Central Asia on its journey towards integration, with a special emphasis on connectivity and multilateral co-operation.

“The OSCE recognizes that the key security challenges in the region cannot be addressed unilaterally,” said Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana György Szabó. “Moreover, they need to be addressed regionally, and you are a perfect example of how this can be done. With continued effort you can make this network a source of solutions to regional security challenges.”

Elena Tarasenko, Deputy Chair of the National Commission on Women’s and Family Demographic Affairs, discussed the importance of engaging women at all levels of government and offered examples of the benefits that this provides societies, economies and governments.

Ambassador of Austria to Kazakhstan Gerhard Sailler spoke about the OSCE Chairmanship’s priorities, including the focus on youth. Asif Safdary, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Youth and Security, discussed OSCE values and principles in addressing security challenges and countering violent extremism, mentioning the special attention given to youth involvement in the OSCE's 'United in Countering Violent Extremism' campaign.

The seminar will be followed by training workshops focused on countering violent extremism, gender mainstreaming, good governance, development of civil society and the use of social media, including film production. The event will include two visits to the site of Expo 2017 as well as a cultural exchange with the USA Expo Pavilion Student Ambassadors.

The event is part of the Office’s efforts to enhance young people’s understanding of contemporary security threats and challenges and to explain the OSCE’s role in addressing them.