Thematic Workshops

2nd International Conference on Youth Volunteering & Dialoguepreventing violent extremism and strengthening social inclusion

25 - 27 September 2017 UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France

United Nations King Abdullah bin AbdulazizInternational Programme fora Culture of Peace and Dialogue

Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization

DIALOGUE

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CONTENT

The rules of the game 4

Youth engagement in media and through social media to construct positive dialogue: Shifting the discourse 7

“Learning about each other” – Intercultural Dialogue Competencies: from youth to youth 11

‘Refugees welcome here?’ – Youth volunteers spearheading inclusion 15

‘Art changes everything’ – Youth engagement with cultural heritage 19

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The rules of the game

The participants will choose one of the four thematic workshops described in this document and split into four groups during the conference. The volunteers will dive into the topic since the first evening of their arrival on 24 September 2017. Base on the documents brought, they will set up the four exhibition rooms where the woprkshops will take place and will have the opportunity to informally introduce their peers with their field-work and expertise during the guided tour on 25 September 2017 afternoon, right after the lunch. The following expected results and structure will be identical to each workshops.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

At the end of the workshops:

• The volunteers will have been introduced with key-thematic areas of UNESCO

• They will have exchanged with their peers on their concrete experience: challenges, lessons learned and success factors

• Based on these exchanges, the volunteers will develop jointly or individually action plans in their chosen thematic area

• From two to three volunteers by thematic workshop will present at the end of the Conference their elevator picth in plenary session, illustrating their engagement and commitment for future action

• Rapporteurs will submit at the end of each session a one-pager report to the UNESCO resource person of their workshops.

Structure of the workshops:

Overall timing: 26 September 2017 = 3 hours, 27 September 2017 = 1,5 hour

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Tuesday 26 September 2017:

2.30 pm Introduction by a UNESCO specialist:

• Recall of the expected results and structure of the workshop

• Appointment of two rapporteurs

• Presentation of the theme of the workshop

2.45 pm Presentation of inspirational practices by young volunteers 

3.30 pm Recall of the structure of a workplan by the facilitator, identification of sub-groups and preparation of the action plans (collective or individuals)

4.15 pm The ingredients of a successful pitch by the facilitator and preparation of the pitches (1 pitch per sub-group)

5.30 pm Meeting in the entrance hall and departure to boat trip on the Seine.

Wednesday 27 September 2017:

9.00 am Finalization of pitches in the working groups and rehearsal in front of the group: 2 to 3 to be presented in plenary

11.00 am Presentation of all pitches group by group in plenary session.

All workshops will take place in English.

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YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN MEDIA AND

THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONSTRUCT

POSITIVE DIALOGUE: SHIFTING THE

DISCOURSE

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Introduction and facilitation by Alton Grizzle, UNESCO Programme Specialist and Jing Xu, Programme assistant, Media development and society section, Communication and Information

OVERVIEW

Information, media, and communications systems – including social media – play an essential role in the way other peoples, cultures, religions and ethnic groups interact and are perceived. Through information and media of all forms, people sometimes generate stereotypes, preconceived images of others, and social exclusion. Media and information systems also have the fundamental power to promote diversity, pluralism and intercultural dialogue. Therefore, a critical understanding of the functions of media and information systems and their contribution to social inclusion, open societies, combating of prejudices and cultural stereotypes, and dissolving barriers is indispensable to achieving tolerance, dialogue, understanding among cultures, and thus the prevention of violent extremism. Fostering youth media and information literate societies enables people to acquire this critical understanding and necessary skills and attitude. Consider these facts. 70% of youth (15-24) worldwide are online according to the ITU, ICTS Facts and Figures, 2017. A UNESCO study on youth response to social and democratic discourses on issues such as intercultural dialogue, interreligious dialogue, as well as online hate and radical content revealed the following. A combined 78% say they accidentally encounter hate content on social media (Facebook, YouTube and Twitter in that order). 54% of youth surveyed say they do not know how to respond to hate and radical content they encounter online. 92% think MIL can help them to counter hate online and protect themselves. 87% think that interreligious dialogue and 93% think intercultural dialogue are important to them and the development of their countries. Like women and other sometimes-marginalized groups, youth are often untapped resources. Capitalizing on the drive and spirit of youth through volunteerism is necessary. Promoting media and information literacy (MIL) as a tool for dialogue and understanding is a key strategy of UNESCO for more positive discourse about dialogue in media and online. It is a reasonable requirement that the media, in order to fulfil its democratic potential and promote intercultural dialogue, should reflect the diversity of society without any bias.

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Achieving this goal requires the construction of capacities for media actors to guard against unconscious biases and become alive dialogue. It also requires media and information literate youth who can contribute positive dialogue online while demanding such quality in media. This session will introduce young participants to MIL for dialogue powered by MIL CLICKS social media innovation. MIL CLICKS stands for Media and Information Literacy: Critical-thinking, Creativity, Literacy, Intercultural, Citizenship, Knowledge and Sustainability (MIL CLICKS). It a social innovation for youth to acquire information, media and technological competences for dialogue in their normal day-to-day use of the Internet – while enabling them to engage as in positive social change. MIL CLICKS was started through the support of Saudi Arabia, the European Commission and Dentsu.

Youth will share their experiences as volunteers for dialogue, and in promoting social inclusion to prevent radical extremism. They will also be invited to share their views on the theme of the workshop and the issues sketched in this session description as well as a short multimedia Power Point Presentation, which will be circulated at least two weeks before the event. Finally, they will prepare an action plan on how they can act as youth volunteers for MIL for dialogue through building the MIL CLICKS Cloud.

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“LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER” –

INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE

COMPETENCIES: FROM YOUTH TO YOUTH

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Introduction and facilitation by Ibrahim Hegazi, Senior Specialist and Maysoun Chehab, Education expert, UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut

OVERVIEW

Intercultural dialogue competencies are considered to be critical given the present situation in this world, in which we witness ongoing conflicts and civil strife, mistrust and tensions among communities, and violence within and across countries and/or cultures including.  Such existing conditions violate the right to life, freedom of expression, family unity, health and education, protection from violence and abuse, and the right to receive humanitarian assistance. Youth living or facing such environments lack appropriate social and emotional skills and positive attitudes toward one’s self and others. The vital role of education which helps to prepare young generation and youth to cope with social, cultural, and political differences is therefore clear. Through education youth will not be viewed just as beneficiaries. They are essential actors in promoting its values and spreading its mission in addition to finding solutions to key issues faced in the world today. Their energy and leadership has been demonstrated across the world, and they must be fully engaged in development efforts and supported in this work by their societies. Consequently youth volunteers can play an important role in promoting common human values and dialogue locally and globally, while working together to build a movement of youth who actively participate in decision making, implementation, and monitoring of initiatives related to intercultural dialogue and violence prevention.

Within this framework the workshop intends to:

• Connect youth from different regions together in order to promote volunteerism for intercultural dialogue and violence prevention.

• Empower a group of young advocates in the region with intercultural dialogue skills oriented towards positive actions related to promoting peace and tolerance.

• Mobilize youth to influence policies decisions at national and regional levels to adopt GCED into national systems.

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This workshop is an interactive session designed to provide an introduction on the 21st century key intercultural competencies stemming from the growing diversity and interconnectedness of the world. It will promote a deeper understanding of the urgent skills and approaches needed for intercultural dialogue; what is it intended for, what its possible outcomes are and how does it contribute to peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism. The workshop will focus on:

• Communication and dialogue Skills: Developing the necessary skills to conduct intercultural dialogue - Cultural Intelligence and the profile of the intercultural effective person.

• Critical inquiry necessary for preventing violence and extremism: Reviewing, questioning and analyzing of critical problems, issues and claims systematically and positively.

• Diverse perspectives and experiences: acquiring knowledge and analytical skills to understand a variety of perspectives and experiences, including those of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, social class among others.

This workshop is an opportunity for youth to take the center-stage, share their ideas and expertise, inspire each other, debate, discuss, and take the lead! Youth participants are encouraged to bring in their Ipods / cell phones to the workshop to make noise around the discussion and go live on social media.

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‘REFUGEES WELCOME HERE?’ – YOUTH

VOLUNTEERS SPEARHEADING

INCLUSION

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Introduction and facilitation by Konstantinos Tararas, Programme Specialist and Linda Tinio-Le Douarin, Assistant Programme Specialist, Inclusion and Rights Section, Social and Human Sciences Sector

OVERVIEW

As centres of economic opportunity, education, culture and innovation, cities are at the front lines of refugee and migrant reception and integration and represent greater possibilities to access remunerative work, economic welfare, and social development. Local authorities and public servants Efforts towards the inclusion of refugees and migrants are adversely affected by austerity policies and budget cuts and by an anti-migrant backlash in the context of the global economic crisis. At the same time, effective responses would require enhanced capacity, in terms of knowledge, skills and authority, to meet related challenges and thereby enhance the enjoyment of human rights for all city-dwellers.

Local governments have specific commitments for the realization of human rights as subsidiary duty-bearers to national governments with respect to those human rights and labour standards that fall within their fields of competence. Four overarching principles are highlighted: universal human rights apply to all refugees and migrants, regardless of status; equality of treatment and non-discrimination between refugees/migrants and nationals; international labour standards apply to all persons engaged in an employment relationship; and all persons seeking international refugee protection have rights to request asylum, to due process, to non-refoulement, to non-discrimination and to protection of human rights.

As demonstrated by the Welcoming Cities for Refugees and Migrants initiative implemented by UNESCO and the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation, in partnership with ECCAR, international stakeholder networks such as ECCAR, EUROCITIES, the Global Mayoral Fora, etc., largely converge on a welcoming agenda towards refugees and migrants.  Such an agenda could have the following main features:

1. A deliberate, values- and rights-based approach to city governance – that promotes equality of treatment and opportunity and prohibition

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of discrimination - should be explicitly announced and become part of formal city legislation, planning, policy, and practice. This commitment would also entail appropriate knowledge base, interdepartmental coordination, designated focal points, and evaluation.

2. Services for all, universal and equal access for migrants and refugees to basic human and social services, without discrimination on any ground.

3. Celebrating culture and diversity, recognizing cities as genuine places of diversity, accounting for their dynamism and offering best prospects for future development.

4. Recognition of migrants and refugees as social actors and political agents engaged in creating opportunities and realizing solutions.

5. A dedicated and ample ‘campaign’, including through the media and public relations work, against discrimination, racism and xenophobia, with gender equality as an integral part.

6. Engagement of all stakeholders in the advisory, decision-making and implementation bodies of city governance.

7. Multi-level governance, dialogue and cooperation, national and local, towards obtaining the political ‘space’ and support.

8. Finances for services to all and social cohesion must be reflected in allocations for programmes, outreach, trained staff and infrastructure.

9. Accountability at all levels, by all actors, is essential to ensuring welcoming cities for refugees and migrants.

Possible actions for enhancing the welcoming agenda:

1. Facilitating networking, dialogue, cooperation and mutual support through focused consultations, conferences, workshops and trainings;

2. Enhancing the knowledge base to support local authorities and all other stakeholders.

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‘ART CHANGES EVERYTHING’ – YOUTH

ENGAGEMENT WITH CULTURAL HERITAGE

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Introduction and facilitation by Nada Al-Hassan, Chief of the Arab States Unit, World heritage Center and Ines Yousfi, Associate Project Officer, Policy and Statutory Meetings Unit, Culture Sector

OVERVIEW

In the line of the UNESCO Regional Conference on “Cultural Heritage and Identity: an Arab Youth Perspective” of March 2017 (Tunis), this initiative aims to supporting youth engagement in cultural heritage protection and peacebuild ing worldwide.

The social, economic and demographic transitions facing several countries in the world underscore the importance of engaging young women and men more effectively as agents - beneficiaries, partners and actors of change - in rights-based initiatives aimed at promoting their cultural heritage, diversity, inclusion and dia logue.

The civic protection and enhancement of cultural heritage and intellectual tradition is recognized as an un tapped resource in this endeavor to build social cohesion, a sense of belonging, and historical awareness as well as to reinforce identities in the face of a complex and intertwined past and present. This can only be leveraged and promoted through local actors’ ownership, especially by youth, and through interventions that position culture at the centre of public policies. Cultural heritage in several countries in the world has also been subject in re cent years to an unprecedented scale of intentional destruction, marked by iconoclasm and the persecution of targeted communities, notably in Iraq and Syria.

Hence, the very intimate linkage between culture, identity and democracy is at the core of this workshop agenda. The challenge is to better engage youth with full participation in contributing to the valorization and commu nication of their rich and multi-layered national cultural heritage.

In UNESCO’s view, the notion of cultural heritage includes both tangible and intangible elements that represent a unique set of resources for the promotion of respect, intellectual curiosity regarding others, open identities, and mutual understanding among peoples.

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At a time of pervading violent discourses that justify the destruction of cultural heritage in the name of certain ideologies, it is crucial to promote a critical approach to culture, empha sizing their universal value and the continuous creativity that characterizes all cultures.

In this context, how can youth be better engaged in reflecting on, and in valorizing their rich, multilayered cul tural heritage?

OBJECTIVES

• Identify and build support for innovative regional/national projects aimed at facilitating youth participation and volunteering in the promotion of heritage, peace, and human rights worldwilde.

• Engage young volunteers in a guided conversation about the modalities to further involve youth in cultural and intellectual heritage pro tection and promotion, and about one’s right to take part in cultural life for the positive development of one’s communities.

• Stimulate creative thinking and planning for the design of rights-based and youth-centred projects aimed at heritage protection, including in the context of extreme violence.

• Strengthen the engagement and cultural literacy of the youth-led civil society in the protection of cultural heritage as a tool for economic development, peace and social cohesion worldwilde.

• Identification of successful practices tapping on heritage and arts education as a way to promote cohesion, intercultural dialogue and plural identities, including within schools and cities.

• Building a consensus on a youth-driven vision for heritage protection and promotion at local/municipal level.