Sarajevo, 8 December 2023 – Today, the United Nations Population Fund together with Al-Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival, the Western Balkans Regional Youth Cooperation Office and the United Nations Volunteer Programme, held an event at UN House in Sarajevo, celebrating the important role of youth in peacebuilding and policy-making.

This event is part of a series of events leading up to Human Rights Day on the 10th of December which marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights of all - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, or age.

The roundtable in Sarajevo explored youth peace activism in the Western Balkans, and looked at how the region was responding to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1250, on Youth Peace and Security Agenda.

Samid Sarenkapic, UNFPA project manager for youth portfolio, emphasized the critical role of youth engagement in shaping the post-conflict identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He highlighted the significant potential of young people. Sarenkapic stated, "These young individuals bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a deep desire for progress, which are essential in addressing the complex challenges of a post-war society."

The director of the AJB DOC Film Festival, Edhem Fočo, stressed the importance of creating a short and effective documentary form that gives young authors the opportunity to, in a relatively short time and with their mobile phone, create content that younger viewers can understand. We are grateful to UNFPA for this year's cooperation, and I think that this cooperation will give additional importance to our effort to bind young authors, as well as the audience, to documentary film, as perhaps the most effective tool for a deeper understanding of today's most important topics.

Dr. Jago Salmon, Head of UN Coordination Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, added: “I urge each one of us, from policymakers to educators, from civil society to international organizations, to make the decision to invest in the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina,  listening to them and giving them the tools they need. For in their voices lie the seeds of the Bosnia and Herzegovina of the future.”

The event recognised that youth engagement in BiH faces substantial challenges. Political divisions continue to impede inclusive youth participation in decision-making and limits opportunities, often hindering the full realization of young people's potential. In a concerted effort to confront these challenges and showcase the myriad capabilities of the youth in BiH, UNFPA, in collaboration with its partners, is actively working to engage young people.

At the event Al Jazeera Balkans and the United Nations Population Fund presented awards to young people in the region for innovative forms of storytelling, focused on challenging, sensitive topics, presenting new, dynamic tales, and promoting peace narratives.