Speaking up at the OSCE Mediterranean Conference

This week, the European Youth Forum has been at the OSCE Mediterranean Conference, taking place this week (5 – 6 October 2016) in Vienna (Austria) organised with the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria.

The theme of this year’s conference is "Youth North and South of the Mediterranean: Facing Security Challenges and Enhancing Opportunities". Therefore the conference is focusing on the topic of challenges for comprehensive security and adopting a cross- dimensional approach.

Among many high level experts from all over the world, the Youth Forum’s President Johanna Nyman, as a key-note speaker in a session on migration trends, emphasised that young people and youth organisations play a crucial role in finding common solutions to some of the security and migration challenges Europe faces.

Johanna also highlighted that youth organisations are vital in the effort to integrating migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. She gave concrete examples of youth organisations that are leading the way in this area. She commented how the youth organisations are important contributors to enhancing an inclusive society for all culturally and socially diverse young people, empowering them to become active citizens.

This conference comes at a time of heightened concerns over both migration and security issues and the trends of young people turning towards violent extremism. The European Youth forum believes that youth organisations should be involved in the discussions about how to prevent such violent extremism. And, whilst they can contribute, by providing young people with a secure environment where they can grow, try out, learn and build positive attitudes towards the society, they alone cannot prevent young people turning to violent extremism.

Other participants in the high-level conference, include representatives of the OSCE States, the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia), international organisations and NGOs.

For more information, see the Youth Forum’s position and best practices on the Role of the Youth Sector in preventing violent extremism and on the Resolution on Protection and Integration of Young Refugees below: