Young voices speak up at the OSCE

Sist oppdatert Fredag, 30/10/2020

Young people are making their voices heard on security at the influential Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The Perspectives 20-30 initiative calls on passionate young professionals to shape international action.

With 57 participating states from Europe, Asia and North America, the OSCE is a unique platform for dialogue that regularly brings together European Union Member States, the United States and Russia, among others, to exchange views and cooperate on security, conflict prevention and crisis management.

All EU countries take part, and both the OSCE and the EU work together to strengthen peace, security and co-operation in Europe.

Young people have a major stake in co-operation outcomes, especially as almost 40 % of people living in the OSCE area are under 30 years old.

That’s why the organisation set up its Perspectives 20-30 Core Group of Experts. These 22 young professionals from across the OSCE region met for the first time in 2019 to offer their unique viewpoints for a safer future in Europe.

Youth-led peace 

‘Youth is part of civil society and civil society is key to achieving peace and stability,’ says one expert, Hande Taner from the Netherlands.

Taner is also a member of the Council of Europe’s Advisory Council on Youth, representing the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO). She focuses on youth empowerment and countering Islamophobia.

‘I applied to join the Core Group of Experts so I could raise awareness on the importance of anti-racism as a security measure,’ says the 22-year-old. ‘I also wanted to learn from the know-how and stories of other young experts and activists.’ 

Dialogue for reconciliation

Another expert, Kristina Arakelova from Georgia, is an ethnic Armenian interested in mediation between ethnic minorities and minority integration. She promotes dialogue among young people on conflict resolution and peace building in the South Caucasus. 

‘I am particularly proud of the “Youth for Peace and Democracy” forum, which was held in Tbilisi,’ the 32-year-old says. 

The forum in the Georgian capital took place in February 2020. Organised by Youth for Diplomatic Engagement (YDE) together with Civic IDEA, it attracted high-powered guests, such as Georgia’s minister for reconciliation and civil equality, along with other politicians and decision-makers. Building on the outcomes of Perspective 20-30, it promoted dialogue among young women and men about the implications of conflicts. 

Conferences like these can help to defuse regional tension. ‘Looking to the future and considering sustainable development is highly important in promoting integration and in challenging ultra-nationalistic and xenophobic attitudes,’ Arakelova says.

Add your voice

The Core Group of Experts shared their vision for a safer future with decision-makers at the 2019 OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Bratislava. The group produced a discussion paper identifying key areas critical to security in the OSCE area and highlighting how young people can contribute to peace efforts and security. 

The paper calls for more diverse points of view when creating policies that tackle the challenges facing Europe and the whole OSCE region. 

Online public presentations of the paper are being organised in several cities as part of a 2020-2021 roadshow, prepared in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (FES ROCPE). 

Watch out for upcoming dates. This could be your chance to say what steps you think the OSCE should take for a safer future, as roadshow discussions will be reflected in a future paper.