Prevention of violent extremism and terrorist radicalization among youth in focus of OSCE-supported seminar in Kyrgyzstan
The prevention of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) was the focus of the OSCE-supported intensive seminar for some 50 representatives of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry’s Juvenile Delinquency Inspectorate, Municipal committees on youth issues and leaders of Territorial Youth Councils, that concluded on 22 October in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
The six-day event, organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Iyman Development Fund, aimed to raise public awareness on VERLT by fostering dialogue and co-operation between state authorities and youth.
During the seminar the participants learned about the possible factors driving terrorist radicalization among youth and identified effective tools to prevent this phenomenon and to support young people.
“The OSCE Centre in Bishkek fruitfully co-operates and supports Territorial Youth Councils and organizes many awareness-raising activities on mediation, prevention of conflicts and violent extremism,” said William Leaf, OSCE Senior Field Representative in Osh.
Ysakbai Myrzabekov, Head of the Southern regional office of Kyrgyzstan’s State Commission on Religious Affairs, stressed the importance of collaboration in countering violent extremism. “We need to improve inter-agency co-operation and work closely with international organizations and NGOs to prevent any involvement of youth in violent extremism.”
In December 2015, OSCE participating States adopted a comprehensive Ministerial Declaration on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism, which emphasizes the need to engage and empower youth.
The seminar was organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s programme on enhancing the Kyrgyz Republic’s capacity to effectively counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism. This activity was held as a contribution to the OSCE’s United in Countering Violent Extremism (#UnitedCVE) campaign.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
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