Video: Empowering young people against violent radicalization

Violent extremism fuels and drives terrorist radicalization and recruitment. In search of purpose and at grip with questions over identity and belonging, young people can be easy targets.

“In many cases radicalization comes from the feeling of being marginalized, of being oppressed, being discriminated,” says Iana Minochkina, OSCE Youth Ambassador from Russia.

Preventing young people from getting radicalized to violence requires actions to address the social, economic, political and other factors that are conducive to terrorism.

We have to be a society where we allow everybody to have the possibility to strive for what they believe in

Paul Steiner OSCE Youth Ambassador from Germany

“We have to be a society where we allow everybody to have the possibility to strive for what they believe in,” says Paul Steiner, OSCE Youth Ambassador from Germany.

Watch and listen to the OSCE’s Youth Ambassadors as they explain why young people are particularly vulnerable, why giving youth a voice in society is crucial and how empowering youth can help them protect their peers and society at large from the scourge of violent extremism:

Preventing terrorist radicalization requires a joint action through all three dimensions of the OSCE work: human rights, economic and environmental, and politico-military. OSCE Youth Ambassadors join the #UnitedCVE campaign and explain why young people are particularly vulnerable.

The fewer alternatives to effectively participate in society, the more powerful the appeal of violent extremism. The OSCE Youth Ambassadors speak up to give a young people’s perspective.

Social injustices and lack of economic perspectives breed frustrations and disillusion. We need to help young people fulfil their potential. OSCE Youth Ambassadors address their peers and policy makers.

The videos were filmed during a two-day conference hosted by Serbia’s OSCE Chairmanship on 4 and 5 September 2015 in Belgrade, which brought together OSCE representatives, the Youth Ambassadors and NGOs under the umbrella of the OSCE United in Countering Violent Extremism, #UnitedCVE campaign. The campaign underscores that the OSCE stands as one in countering violent extremism that leads to terrorism.