The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) local branch in Montenegro organized a three-day training titled “Capacity Building for Representatives of Local Governments and Civil Society Organizations in the Context of Implementing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda” in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, held from April 14 to 16 in Budva.
The training brought together representatives of local governments and civil society organizations from across Montenegro, with the aim of enhancing their knowledge and skills in the field of youth policy, conflict prevention, and the promotion of a culture of peace.
Through interactive sessions, group work, and exchange of experiences, participants had the opportunity to become familiar with the key principles of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, as well as with ways to apply them in practice at the local level. Special emphasis was placed on the role of young people as active agents in building more resilient and inclusive communities.
As part of the program, a forum was also organized, serving as a platform for dialogue between various stakeholders, decision-makers, experts, and young people, on the challenges and opportunities for improving the position of youth in the context of peace and security.
First panel of the Forum “Youth Peace and Security” gathered: Darko Stojanović, Director of the directorate of Youth in the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, Nikola Zirojević, Member of the Parliament of Montenegro, Jelena Miljanić, UNDP program coordinator and Sanja Vico, associate professor at the University of Exeter, UK.
Director of the Directorate for Youth and Cooperation with the NGO Sector at the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, Darko Stojanović, emphasized the importance of the YPS Forum, stating: “The Youth, Peace and Security agenda represents an important framework for strengthening the role of young people in building peaceful, inclusive and resilient communities. Platforms such as this Forum are essential for fostering dialogue, exchanging knowledge and strengthening cooperation between institutions and youth, which is a prerequisite for creating sustainable and effective youth policies.”
Mr Koljenović, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, highlighted the importance of meaningful youth participation, stating: “We must create space in which young people participate in decision-making, in which their voice is heard and in which their potential is used. This year carries additional weight. Montenegro is chairing the Berlin Process, and we are marking ten years of RYCO’s existence. This is not just an anniversary – it is a reminder of the responsibility to take a step further and to build more sustainable models of cooperation.”
Mr Burwitz, Programme Manager in the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, further noted: “Two years after launching the dialogue on the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, we are confident that, together with RYCO, we have helped build stronger bridges between young people and decision-makers, ensuring that youth voices are heard and acted upon. Young people must remain at the centre of our efforts, not as beneficiaries, but as leading partners in shaping the solutions that affect their lives.”
The discussions highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation between state institutions and international organizations, meaningful youth participation, and the need for a systematic approach to the implementation of the YPS agenda.
Second panel gathered RYCOgnizing YPS grantees Ivan Radulović from Civic Alliance and Kristina Žugić from Youth Initiative for Human Rights, as well as Marina Tomović from CSO Seed and Katarina Vukadinović who is the founder of Youth Club within the Budva Municipality. Through their contributions, panelists emphasized that effective implementation of the YPS agenda requires continuous exchange of knowledge and best practices, meaningful youth involvement, as well as continuous dialogue between institutions and young people.
By organizing this event, LBO MNE continues to contribute to strengthening cross sectoral cooperation for the implementation of Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in Montenegro.
