Lebanese youths participate in a workshop to promote pluralism and belonging to the local community

Solidarity, coexistence, pluralism and belonging to the local community have been the values promoted during the course of the workshop held in Tripoli, Lebanon to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism among young people living in difficult contexts.  

The workshop was jointly coordinated and implemented by the European project ACT – Advance Counter Terrorism for Lebanon Security, and the Lebanese Association for the Promotion of Reading and Culture of Dialogue, as part of the project’s activities with civil society. It has targeted young participants from diverse backgrounds to foster a sense of belonging to the city and the local community, with the aim of changing the perception of Tripoli as a city tainted by violence, terrorism, extremism, poverty and marginalisation. 

 Over two days, participants had the opportunity to interact with each other and with influential community members and experts in human rights, inclusive social development, policy development, advocacy, communication, media and journalism, art, culture and music.    

Ms. Carine El Hage, ACT Project’s human rights expert, thanked the participants for “their eagerness to learn and connect with each other, which has made this workshop so impactful”. She also highlighted the importance of education, tolerance and solidarity among members of a community as the only possible way to positively transform a reality and open windows of opportunity that create spaces for growth, development and change. 

This activity is part of the EU ACT-funded project “Advancing Counter-Terrorism for Lebanon’s Security”. The programme is part of the EU’s efforts to support Lebanon in strengthening national counter-terrorism capacities, enhancing the national cyber security system while promoting a rights-based approach to terrorism cases. The project is led by FIIAPP in collaboration with CIVIPOL (France) and the Carabinieri (Italy).