Following the successful regional forum in Tirana, two additional regional events were held—one in Kosovo and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina—further deepening cross-border collaboration with an aim to strengthen regional cooperation and built new partnerships, but also demonstrated the value of inclusive, multisectoral dialogue. It set a solid foundation for shared strategies to prevent youth violence and promote resilience in the Western Balkans.
The second Regional Youth Event took place in Pristina, Kosovo, on 27–28 January 2025. It focused on the critical role of youth in local public safety mechanisms, particularly in the context of preventing violent radicalization and extremism. The forum brought together 23 participants, including youth workers, educators, social workers, public institution representatives, policymakers, NGO leaders, and experts from international organizations such as the OSCE and the European Union. Throughout the two-day discussions, participants examined the driving factors that influence youth engagement in community safety efforts and explored how young people can more meaningfully contribute to decision-making processes that impact their daily lives and well-being.
The event fostered an open and collaborative environment, allowing participants to share experiences, best practices, and innovative approaches for youth-centered safety strategies. A key takeaway from the discussions was the need to recognize and support youth volunteerism and civic activism as a legitimate form of contribution to public safety. Participants emphasized the importance of establishing inclusive platforms that elevate youth voices and ensure their sustained involvement in local safety initiatives. One concrete recommendation was for municipal youth councils to advocate for the inclusion of young representatives in local safety committees and consultative bodies. Other proposals focused on the need for early educational interventions targeting cybercrime, bullying, hate speech, and other forms of online and offline threats. The event concluded with a renewed call for stronger inter-institutional cooperation and the development of long-term strategies that place youth empowerment at the center of public safety and community resilience agendas.
The third regional event was held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 24–25 February 2025. This forum built upon the momentum of the previous events and explored public safety from a broader community-based perspective. With a focus on multisectoral cooperation, the forum emphasized the value of inclusive, proactive approaches to violence prevention. Special attention was given to the role of youth as catalysts for fostering local resilience and building safer environments through community-driven initiatives. Participants—drawn from institutions, civil society organizations, local authorities, and youth groups—examined effective models of youth engagement and shared insights into cross-sectoral collaboration.
The sessions highlighted how localized efforts, when driven by young people and supported by coordinated institutional frameworks, can significantly reduce community vulnerability to violence, crime, and exclusion. The event also emphasized the importance of early identification of risk factors and the development of response mechanisms tailored to the local context. Overall, the forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina reinforced the program’s regional objectives by amplifying youth voices, strengthening local prevention ecosystems, and demonstrating that sustainable public safety outcomes are best achieved through meaningful youth inclusion and community participation.
The forum provided a platform for discussions among key stakeholders, including representatives from social work centres, ministries, academic institutions, educational organizations, and youth NGOs. Participants exchanged insights on how public safety models based on social engagement, successfully implemented in other regions, can be adapted to the Western Balkans. The event reinforced the need for active community participation in tackling security issues and preventing violence. It was emphasized that the implementation of such models is crucial in today’s context, where engaged communities are fundamental to improving public safety and addressing the challenges posed by rising crime and violence.
“We are pleased to be part of today’s Regional Forum organized by the association Zemlja djece u BiH and to have the opportunity to listen and engage in discussions on various aspects of social engagement in enhancing public safety and preventing violence. It is a privilege to discuss with participants from social work centers, ministries, academia, educational institutions, and youth NGOs the model of public safety based on social engagement in the Western Balkans—an approach that has long been recognized and established in Western societies. Its implementation is crucial today, given the high number of criminal offenses and various forms of violence we witness on a daily basis. The key to progress lies in active communities that take action,” stated Iskra Tafro, SMART Balkans Communications Manager.
