International Conference on “Youth, Peace and Violent Extremism”

International Conference on “Youth, Peace and Violent Extremism” is a gathering between 100 to 150 young people from around the globe to come together to share their experiences on how they are building resilience in their communities to prevent violent extremism. This conference will take place in Melaka, Malaysia 30 July – 3 August 2018.

OVERVIEW

This coming July come join us at the International Conference on “Youth, Peace and Violent Extremism”.

What:

This International Conference on “Youth, Peace and Violent Extremism” is a gathering between 100 to 150 young people from around the globe to come together to share their experiences on how they are building resilience in their communities to prevent violent extremism.

Who can attend:

Youth advocates, youth organizations, representatives from NGOs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), UN agencies, academia, corporate agencies, and related stakeholders.

When:

30^th July – 3^rd August 2018 (tentative)

Where:

Melaka, Malaysia

Important Dates:

Early Registration Closes: 31^st May 2018

Late Registration Closes: 5^th July 2018

Click here to Register.

ABOUT

World Youth Foundation (WYF) is “an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations” and an NGO Associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. World Youth Foundation is an international non-governmental organisation which was launched in 1994 with the aim to promote research, development and documentation of youth programmes beneficial to youth worldwide.

World Youth Foundation seeks to create opportunities for youth to get involved and grow, regardless of where they are in the world. Our activities include engagement in dialogues, conferences, training, seminars, exchange programmes, consultative and knowledge-based research. Our activities support our programmes in knowledge sharing, capacity building, civic engagement, educational and cultural exchanges, local outreach programmes among others.

The International Conference on “Youth, Peace and Violent Extremism” is a follow up to the Asia Pacific Regional Workshop on Racism “Youth Tolerance in the New Millennium” organized in July 2001. The International Conference is a joint effort with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia and various other agencies. This year’s programme will provide an opportunity for young people from around the globe to come together to discuss, understand, share, find solutions and develop strategies on issues pertaining to violent extremism, peace, inclusive societies and how they are building resilience in their communities to prevent violent extremism.

In recent years, the world has witnessed new waves of violent extremism that have taken the lives of many innocent people. The virulent spread of violent extremism has greatly troubled the international community over the last several years. Violent extremist groups are posing a direct assault on the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, undermining efforts to harness a harmony and peaceful society, maintain peace and security, foster sustainable development, and also promote the respect of human rights.

Actively engaging young people is imperative to prevent violent extremism and successfully implement the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 16 (“promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels”).

Resolution 2250 (2015) was adopted by consensus by UN Member States on 9^th November 2015 by the United Nations Security Council. The UNSCR 2250, Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism recognizes the essential role that young people play in sustainable development. UNSCR 2250 focuses on the role of young people in building peace and fighting against violent extremism and acknowledges young people as stakeholders in the process of peacebuilding and recognize their contribution towards sustaining peace.

Objectives

The International Conference will create a safe and supportive environment for youth to participate in the fight against violent extremism. It is an initiative to engage young people to participate in the dialogue of preventing violent extremism and to enable them to realize the importance of combating violent extremism and building sustainable peace.

to provide young people with the opportunity to share experiences and viewpoints on good practices in addressing the drivers of violent extremism;
to identify the “push and pull factors” on the drivers of violent extremism
to examine and discuss the role of youths in preventing the conditions that are conducive to violent extremism and promoting sustaining peaceful societies;
to engage youth worldwide in addressing the challenges related to P/CVE, to include them in the decision making process on P/CVE issues as highlighted in UNSCR 2250
to discuss ways to strengthen the links between P/CVE and the related SDGs – as fully implementing the SDGs, with a focus on SDG 16 will help prevent violent extremism by addressing the socio, economic, political factors that enable radicalization; and
to empower youths through capacity building and offering opportunities for networking and cooperation.

Methodology

Presentations by local and international speakers;
Capacity building training
An outreach programme, “An Act of Kindness – Roses for Peace”

Expected outcomes

The International Conference is expected to generate the following outputs and follow up measures:

Identification of priority areas of action
Country-level activities in P/CVE and capacity building needs
Networking on P/CVE implementation facilitation in their respective countries

Follow-up

The output of the International Conference will be a written report that reflects the conference’s discussions and conclusions for follow up activities
Follow up programs by participants for their respective organizations or communities;

To apply, please click here

Please refer to the FAQ for more information.