One hundred and seventeen young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in four of the Youth Forums organized in the past ten days in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and Banja Luka.
The work of the Youth Forums is part of the project Dialogue for the Future. The results of these meetings will be presented at the first conference of the dialogue platform in April 2015.
Youth Forums are a place where young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina have the opportunity to present constructive ideas for the progress of BiH with special emphasis on the role of youth in this process.
Youth Forum participants are active young people from non-governmental sector, councilors and those who are exploring the possibilities of greater participation in the development of their local communities. They concluded that it is necessary to intensify communication between the government and NGO sector, challenge the myths about ineffective communication channels, and improve access to information about the opportunities, as well as the procedures to be followed for the purpose of increasing the civic participation.
Peace and community development, environmental protection, and gender issues were highlighted as areas which are burning issues and / or obstacles that can be overcome only by direct cooperation with the government representatives.
Participants continue their cooperation, with the coordination and help of the Dialogue for the Future project team. The next meeting of the working group is expected as early as June, 2015.
Dialogue for the Future project activities will last until December 31st, 2015 and will be realized through three thematic areas: culture, education and youth.
On the basis of a joint initiative of the BiH Presidency and the United Nations Secretary General, as well as recognition of the need for creating a space for dialogue and the promotion of coexistence in BiH, the UN Country Team in BiH led by the UN Resident Coordinator and in collaboration with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has developed project entitled “Dialogue for the Future: promotion of coexistence and diversity in BiH”, implemented jointly by UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP.
For more information about this project, please visit the official UN website at: www.ba.one.un.org
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