UNESCO will hold the international conference, “Youth and the Internet: Fighting Radicalization and Extremism” on 16 -17 June which will bring together government officials, academics, policy-makers, youth NGOs representatives, experts and practitioners from a range of institutions and disciplines.
It is an important link within existing international efforts to meet challenges of extremism and violence among youth who are most vulnerable to the negative impact of these phenomena and the increasing use of ICT tools in disseminating these ideas.
Participants will discuss policy interventions and processes for reducing the use of the Internet as a tool for youth extremism and radicalization, as well as the ways ahead for the engagement of young people for a culture of tolerance and peace.
The Conference will provide a platform for debates regarding the current challenges of youth radicalization on the Internet. It will also sensitize about potential risks if the issue remains unaddressed in a relevant and holistic way.
Furthermore, the Conference will seek to identify specific areas for UNESCO action, across all its areas of competence, to support member states in tackling these important challenges.
The knowledge shared at the Conference will be taken forward through pilot projects, which will also act as a learning lab for more effective policy responses in the future.
This Conference will attract some 200 delegates from around the world and will be conducted in English and French.
