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United Nations

Building Trust and Sustainable Peace through Media and Youth Engagement

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Youth from across the region gathered in Sarajevo from 14 to 17 October for the regional conference "Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust: Shaping Stories, Building Trust," organized by UNESCO and UN Women as part of the Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust (Y4IET) project. The conference aimed to empower young people to promote constructive narratives, strengthen intercultural dialogue, and foster mutual understanding and trust. Over four days, participants engaged in panels, workshops, and discussions on the role of media in building trust and sustainable peace, exploring topics such as countering hate speech, disinformation, and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Key Takeaways:

  • The conference brought together over 100 young journalists, students, and communication professionals from across the region to reflect on the role of media in building trust and sustainable peace.
  • The Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust (Y4IET) project, implemented with the support of the UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), aims to empower young people to promote constructive narratives, strengthen intercultural dialogue, and advance inclusion and gender equality.
  • SiniA!a A eA!um, Head of the UNESCO Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized the importance of truthful, ethical, and responsible journalism in building trust and sustainable peace.
  • Jo-Anne Bishop, UN Women Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted the need to equip young journalists to challenge misinformation, center people over clicks, and make the internet safer for everyone, particularly focusing on digital violence against women.
  • Throughout the conference, young journalists engaged with experts on key challenges of modern journalism, including responsible use of artificial intelligence, ethical reporting, and gender-sensitive storytelling.
  • Workshops focused on practical skills such as identifying disinformation, addressing harmful online content, and developing constructive and inclusive narratives.
  • The program concluded with a creative competition 'Youth Changing Narratives,' where participants created and presented short videos on combating hate speech, promoting gender equality, and ethical journalism.
  • UNESCO and UN Women announced plans to maintain cooperation with the network of young journalists, promoting continued collaboration through joint activities, mentorship, and thematic exchanges.

Statistics:

  • Over 100 young journalists, students, and communication professionals from across the region attended the conference.
  • The UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) supports the Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust (Y4IET) project.
  • More than half of women active online in the region report digital violence.
  • The conference aimed to equip young journalists to challenge misinformation and make the internet safer for everyone.

Sources:

  • "Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust: Shaping Stories, Building Trust" conference.
  • UNESCO.
  • UN Women.
  • Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust (Y4IET) project.
  • United Nations Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

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