Jevrosima Pejović participates in the Doha Youth Parliamentary Forum, 27 Nov. 2024DOHA, 27 November 2024 – Today, Jevrosima Pejović (Montenegro), representing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and its Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, delivered a keynote address at the Doha Youth Parliamentary Forum. The event, hosted under the theme “Promoting Youth Perspectives in Parliamentary Responses to Terrorism and Violent Extremism,” brought together young leaders, parliamentarians, and global experts to explore innovative solutions to today’s security challenges.
In her address, Pejović emphasized the pivotal role of youth in shaping effective counter-terrorism policies and fostering sustainable peace. Drawing attention to the underrepresentation of youth in decision-making processes, she noted: “Empowering young people is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. Their voices and perspectives are crucial to tackling the root causes of violent extremism and building inclusive societies.”
Pejović underscored the Assembly’s commitment to empowering youth as a strategic priority, referencing the 2020 establishment of a Network of Young Parliamentarians in the OSCE PA, which fosters collaboration and strengthens mechanisms for youth participation in governance. “The marginalization of youth and ongoing global conflicts increase vulnerability to radicalization,” she said. “Through our Network of Young Parliamentarians, we are building bridges across regions to foster collaboration and strengthen the role of young people in combating these threats.”
Highlighting the importance of youth-led initiatives, Pejović underscored the OSCE PA’s leadership in addressing terrorism and violent extremism. She praised the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism (CCT), established in 2017, for its continued focus on developing innovative policy guidance and promoting legislative convergence in counter-terrorism.
Stressing the OSCE PA’s leadership in this context, Pejović noted recent achievements, such as the 2023 Parliamentary Policy Dialogue co-organized with UNOCT, which convened over 70 representatives from 17 parliamentary assemblies to address challenges like online propaganda and youth unemployment as drivers of violent extremism. She also drew attention to key OSCE PA resolutions, including the 2024 resolution on Artificial Intelligence and Terrorism, the 2022 resolution on Victims of Terrorism, and the 2018 resolution on Preventing Violent Extremism.
In closing, Pejović reaffirmed her dedication to advancing youth perspectives within the OSCE PA’s counter-terrorism committee, ensuring that the Assembly remains at the forefront of global efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism. She called for greater international co-operation and investment in youth-led initiatives, recognizing that their contributions are vital to building a more secure and peaceful future.
David Stögmüller (centre) with other participants of the seminar on the terrorism and organized crime nexus, Doha, 16 Nov. 2024Last week, the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on Youth Engagement and Chair of the Network of Young Parliamentarians David Stögmüller (Austria) represented the PA at the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism’s seminar on the terrorism and organized crime nexus, held in conjunction with the Doha Youth Parliamentary Forum.
Emphasizing the importance of working together across borders and across organizations, Stögmüller welcomed the opportunity to emphasize the critical role of youth in addressing terrorism, underlining that more must be done to build networks of co-operation on all international challenges.
“Only by uniting in our common goal for a safer global community, and by sharing knowledge and resources openly, can the problem of terrorism be comprehensively addressed,” Stögmüller said.
The Doha Youth Parliamentary Forum, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering, is part of the broader Doha Youth Initiative on Counter-Terrorism and Prevention of Violent Extremism (CT/PCVE). The Doha Youth Initiative, supported by leading Qatari universities, aims to raise awareness, build capacity, and foster dialogue among youth and parliamentarians on critical CT/PCVE issues.
The forum participants conveyed diverse visions and models but jointly emphasized the transformative power of youth leadership in addressing terrorism and promoting societal change. Contributors highlighted the importance of youth participation, developing scalable models, and empowering youth-led networks. The discussions also highlighted the critical role of parliamentary engagement and support for international and regional initiatives.
For more on the work of the CCT, please click here.
