Conference was opened by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Germany’s Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière. During the opening speech the need for international cooperation was stressed, according to the German chairmanship, violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism can be effectively countered only through a wide range of measures that are coordinated through a joint international effort.

The two-day conference is attended by experts on the fight against terrorism together with senior officials from OSCE participating States as well as Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation. The conference is also attended by international and regional organizations, including various UN agencies and civil society representatives.

The conference is focused on the role of youth, especially when designing strategies to combat violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism. Conference highlights the important role of prevention, and particularly women in this process. According to Steinmeier prevention must include the improvement of societal participation and education opportunities for young people. At the same time Steinmeier warned of the dangers posed by extremist and terrorist propaganda and called for the need to live up to our own values of living together in fairness and peace.

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