BIHAĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6 December 2016 – The
engagement of young people in creating more a tolerant environment and becoming
empowered to counter violent extremist views among their peers has been
emphasized as a priority at a two-day Youth Summit, that concluded today in
Bihać.
The Youth Summit, hosted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and
Herzegovina, brought together 26 senior school students and teachers from Bužim
and Cazin, aiming to learn about tolerance and mutual respect for each other's
differences. This was also an opportunity to inform young people about violent
extremism and how to counter it.
The event served as a platform for young people and teachers
to talk about the importance of local activities, share information about
issues that are pressing them within their local communities and stimulate
positive actions and more of youth activism.
“An educational system which promotes critical opinion,
inter-cultural and inter-religious co-operation and dialogue is the best
prevention of violent extremism,” stressed Professor Muhamed Jusić from
Atlantic Initiative. “We need curricula that will make primary and secondary
school pupils ready to apply newly-acquired skills and knowledge in prevention
of indoctrination and recruitment to violent groups.”
Aida Ganović, psychologist of Centre for Social Research
“Global Analitika”, said: “We usually fight against violent extremism with
expensive and repressive methods, while scarce attention is paid to
strengthening the educational system. Education and events like this offer
young people ideas for proactive measures in the fight against development of
extreme views. They also encourage enhancement of positive values and critical
thinking, and thus have more lasting influence.”
The Youth Summit is organized as part of the OSCE Mission’s
project on the prevention of violent extremism in BiH. This project contributes
to the OSCE’s wider campaign “United in Countering Violent Extremism”
(#UnitedCVE), which highlights the Organization’s comprehensive approach to
preventing violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.
