On May 7, 2025, IANS hosted the 4th Regional Forum on “Shared Challenges and Achievements in Youth Engagement and Resilience Against Crime and Violent Extremism” in Tirana. The event brought together representatives from civil society and public institutions across Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina—including organizations like SEH, PEN, and Udruženje Zemlja djece u BiH.
The forum opened with the presentation of the regional assessment report, setting the stage for a dynamic discussion on systemic challenges facing youth. Key topics included persistent youth unemployment, social exclusion, and growing vulnerability to online radicalization. Participants emphasized the urgency of early prevention and the importance of inclusive, youth-informed policymaking.
Key findings highlight a significant increase in youth awareness and engagement in preventive initiatives across the region. The report reveals that locally-led programs, when aligned with community needs and supported through cross-sectoral cooperation, effectively reduce youth vulnerability to radicalization and criminal behavior. However, structural challenges—such as limited funding, inconsistent institutional support, and lack of youth representation in policymaking—continue to undermine long-term impact.
Recommendations emphasize the need to institutionalize youth engagement through national action plans, scale up successful community-based interventions, and invest in digital literacy and mental health services as preventive tools. Additionally, the report calls for the creation of sustainable regional platforms to enable continued cross-border learning and policy alignment among civil society and state actors.
Full Report is available HERE.
The event concluded with a call for continued cross-border collaboration, data-driven strategies, and strengthened support systems to ensure young people across the region are equipped to thrive and resist negative influences.
Each country had the chance to present their good examples and models; such as the roles of schools security officers in Albania dedicated to crime prevention; local public safety councils on Kosovo and “Be a man Club” of the Bosnian partner organization.