On 21 October after the lunch four brain-storming sessions were held within the International Conference on the Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: Holistic Approaches from Education to De-Radicalization.
Group A session under the theme of “How the role of civil society could be strengthened to prevent and counter violent extremism?” was moderated by Hatice Tuğba İkizler Fearnley, PHD Candidate, University College London, Group B under the theme of “How the role of (social) media could be enforced to prevent and counter violent extremism?” was moderated by Velma Saric, Founder & CEO, Post-Conflict Research Center, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Group C under the theme of “What should be the innovative national, regional and international approaches to prevent and counter violent extremism?” was moderated by Mohamed Yahya, UNDP Africa Regional Programme Coordinator and Group D under the theme of “How the south-south and triangular cooperation could be improved to prevent and counter violent extremism?” was moderated by Edem Bakhshish, Chief, Division for Arab States, Europe and the CIS, UNOSSC.
The sessions have been started with the introductions and continued with giving ideas under the topics of each group. The issues such as lack of transparency and cooperation, one-size-fits-all approach, investing by governments and international organizations in terms of training, resources, capacity building for young leaders, interaction and cooperation between government and civil society, importance of de-coupling religion from extremism were among the issues discussed.
The group A proposed organization of the Forums at national (and subnational) level with special task. Group B offered to make the Social Media more attractive for young people by creating alternative social media platforms that will effectively respond to challenges. During the session group C proposed to improve religious literacy and engagement of young people in socialization projects. The importance of the South-South Cooperation Concept has been emphasized by Group D and it offered to make training courses to those who are going to represent Member States of the Turkic Council in the future.
