Best ways to tackle the radicalization of youth were the focus of a two-day conference hosted by Serbia's OSCE Chairmanship, which concluded in Belgrade today and gathered representatives of Youth Ambassadors, OSCE structures and NGO sector.

"We must continue to foster discussions on combating radicalization using the potentials of the OSCE, including its cross-dimensional approach to security threats," Roksanda Ninčić, Serbia's State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, adding that she was encouraged by the engagement of young people and the OSCE Youth Ambassadors Network. "I am convinced that we have chosen the right path when we decided to include youth engagement in the OSCE priorities," said Ninčić.

Ninčić stressed that security threats do not only manifest themselves in violence and barbaric acts of terror: "Threats have different root causes that need to be discussed and understood if we are to take any effective measures to protect our youth and our societies at large."

Snezana Klasnja, Serbia's Assistant Minister of Youth and Sport, noted: "In order to create a more peaceful, more secure and tolerant society, as a follow-up to our intensive joint work and efforts to empower young people and to encourage them to take an active part in all important processes of society, we must act now. We must intensify communication with young people at the grassroots level and engage youth in addressing challenges facing them on a daily basis in security sector."

Milena Stosic, Chairperson-in-Office Special Representative on Youth and Security, stated: "Young people are especially vulnerable in this context, therefore inclusion of youth is a must when it comes to creating counter-narratives and successful measures to combat radicalization." Anna-Katharina Deininger, Chairperson-in-Office Special Representative on Youth and Security, concluded that credible alternatives to violent extremism are much needed.

The OSCE's United in Countering Violent Extremism, #UnitedCVE campaign was presented at the conference. It was stated that terrorism is a crime that has no justification, and it should not be associated with any race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.



Photo by:OSCE/Micky Kroell