International Conference on the Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: Holistic Approaches from Education to De-Radicalization
20-21 October 2016, Istanbul
Venue: Hilton Bosphorus Hotel Convention Center
The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) will co-host the International Conference on “the Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE): Holistic Approaches, from Education to De-radicalization” to be held on 20-21 October 2016, in Istanbul.
Participants at the level of Ministers, senior representatives of UNDP and other specialized agencies of the UN, experts of the international organizations including OSCE, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations and academicians will get together with 200 young leaders coming from more than 30 countries from Africa to Central Asia to discuss ways and means of strengthening the role of youth in preventing and countering violent extremism. HE. Tuğrul Türkeş, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, HE. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and HE. Ambassador Ramil Hasnaov, Secretary General of the Turkic Council will address the audience at the opening ceremony of the conference.
The Conference built on the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 2250, recognizing the critical role young people play in building peace, and the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism will focus on examining the violent extremism with its political, social and developmental dimensions while touching upon the root causes of radicalization and the phenomenon of Foreign Terrorist Fighters. Panel discussions will provide a platform for showcasing the contribution of young people to peace-building efforts and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Concrete case studies will be presented on de-radicalization strategies and programs through the use of innovative methods including social media and sports. The Conference will serve as an opportunity for young leaders to exchange experience and knowledge on P/CVE and to build South-South and Triangular partnerships. UNDP, UN Office for South-South Cooperation and International Center for Sport Security are among the partners of the Conference while it is supported by the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). The outcomes of the Conference will be presented to the Turkic Council Summit of Heads of States, themed “Youth and Sports” to be held on 18 November 2016 in Bishkek.
The conference will provide an opportunity for networking among the different oranizations and NGOs. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the Turkic Council and UNAOC. For further information and media accreditation, please contact Ms. Burcu Korkmaz, burcukorkmaz@turkkon.org, 0532 376 29 31, The details on the Conference will be available on http://www.turkkon.org and http://www.turkkon.org/TC-UNAOC/youthforPVE/. For more information about UNAOC go to: www.unaoc.org.