OSCE Countries Young Leaders Forum, Azerbaijan

Deadline: 15 May 2013
Open to: young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from the Caucasus and Southeast European countries
Venue: 7-8 June 2013 at the Park INN Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan

Description

The Azerbaijani-American Youth Social Association (AAYSA) with the financial support of the Azerbaijani Youth Foundation under the Republic of Azerbaijan will organize OSCE countries Young Leaders Forum in Baku on 07-08 June, 2013.

The idea of organizing Young Leaders Forum, within the framework of the OSCE, is bringing together young representatives of youth associations and other appropriate institutions from participating States and their cooperation partners, in order to provide a venue for young people to share their views on the Organization’s principles and activities.

Participants will discuss issues such as international co-operation in the fight against terrorism, support for its victims, the role of young people in conflict prevention, the environment and security and promoting understanding among cultures and religions.

The aim of this Forum is to encourage young people to become involved in OSCE activities and enable them to become aware of their responsibility as citizens and political actors in the changes taking place on a local and global scale, as well as to enable them to express their commitment to the Organization’s values. Taking into account the above, as well as the multidisciplinary nature of the Organization, the Forum will be based on three fundamental elements:

1. Young people are its major and genuine actors.
2. The Forum is envisaged as a platform for sharing ideas and viewpoints, and will be attended not only by young representatives of youth bodies, but also by experts who will guide and moderate the various working sessions.
3. The Organization’s three Dimensions will be present throughout the Forum, with a plural and participatory approach. To do this, various working groups will be set up.

Travel and Accommodation

Participants will be provided with the reimbursement of 70% travel cost, 100% meals, and accommodation. Organization will provide all logistics during the Forum. Participants will be responsible for visa expenses on their own. All member countries of OSCE young leaders can apply and only limited number of participants will be selected.

The Forum will take place in Baku, at Park INN Hotel. It will begin on Monday 7th June, at 10.00 a.m. and will be closed on 8th June at 14.00 p.m.

Languages: The opening ceremony and the plenary sessions will have interpretation from and into English and Azerbaijani. The working group sessions will take place in English language.

Conference Format

The format consists of an opening ceremony, two plenary sessions (the opening session and the closing session) and simultaneous meetings of working groups. The plenary sessions and the working group meetings will be held in accordance with the programme set out by the Azerbaijani-American Youth Social Association and Azerbaijani Youth Foundation. The plenary sessions will be open to all attendants and guests. The opening ceremony will be open to the media.

The working group sessions will be informal, so that dialogue can flow freely and debate is more dynamic. The plenary closing session will focus on the issues that were most debated in the working groups, and on the presentation of their conclusions and recommendations.

Opening Plenary Session: Will consist of a panel of experts, who will present their knowledge and experience as an introduction to the different working groups. Both at opening ceremony and plenary sessions will be speakers from the OSCE office in Baku, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic and from various international organizations accredited embassies.

Working groups: The main goal of the working groups is to offer young people the opportunity to actively participate in the Forum, so that they can work together with people of other nationalities and cultures. The groups will be set up in line with the multi-dimensional nature of the Organization, that is to say, grouped according to each one of the three OSCE dimensions.

Themes of Working Groups: These will focus on activities within the politico-military dimension. They will mostly deal with issues concerning the youth perspective on the new politico-military threats in the OSCE area. Possible groups could be set up in the following areas:

• International cooperation in the fight against terrorism and support for its victims: youth perspective.
• Protracted conflicts (Nagorno-Karabakh, Transdniester and South Ossetia and Abkhazia): Does youth have a role in finding a solution?
• Confidence and Security Building Measures among States: assessment and possible new initiatives by the youth.
• The role of youth in conflict prevention in the OSCE region.
• OSCE field missions: their role and how they are perceived by young people.
• Fostering mutual awareness and understanding between cultures and religions.
• Education as a tool for tolerance between different cultures.

Eligibility

The planned participants are, firstly, young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from the Caucasus and Southeast European countries. One representative from each country is expected to attend and they will be selected mainly among representative youth organizations of participating States and partners for cooperation.

In addition, there will be moderators, who will be in charge of chairing and moderating the various working groups that, during the two days of the Forum, will debate different issues representing the multidisciplinary nature of the Organization. There will be at least one moderator per working group. These may be experts, academicians or other figures with a relevant professional career.

Application

If you are interested to participate please fill the application form AVAILABLE HERE and send it to osce.youthforum.baku@gmail.com. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE 15 MAY 2013.

For questions, please contact the organizers at the email above.