GAZA, ENDURING WINTER AND HUNGER
With the colors of optimism and the voices of youth, Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, hosted the closing conference of the “Ru’yat al-Shabab” project under the title: “National Conference on Youth Participation in Peace, Security, and Countering Violent Extremism.”
Jointly organized by Un Ponte Per (UPP), Agency for Peacebuilding (AP), and the Ashur Iraqi Foundation for Relief and Development (ARD), and funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the event marked the culmination of a year-long initiative fostering dialogue, capacity building, and community engagement among Iraqi youth.
The conference gathered over 70 participants, including project graduates, government representatives, and members of civil society. The event reaffirmed the importance of empowering Iraqi youth - both men and women - in shaping pathways for dialogue and peace in a country still writing the story its recovery from conflict and extremism.
In his opening remarks, First Secretary Francesco Frisone, representative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stated: “investing in youth is investing in Iraq’s future.” He emphasized how the Ru’yat al-Shabab project embodies the spirit of cooperation between Iraq and Italy in supporting peace and civic engagement.
Giulia Ferraro, Project Manager at the Italian Agency for Peacebuilding, presented the project’s major milestones - including the training of 40 Iraqi from five governorates (Basra, Baghdad, Diyala, Nineveh, and Anbar) in dialogue facilitation, community mediation, and participatory decision-making.
Raed Mikhael Shaba, Country Director of UPP Iraq, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting youth-led peacebuilding efforts and empowering young citizens to become catalysts for positive change.
Mohammed Qasim – Representative of Ashur Organization: "Our organization reaffirms its ongoing commitment to supporting peace and peacebuilding efforts, empowering youth to play an active role in their communities, and enabling them to become leaders of positive change while advocating for the prevention of violent extremism."
During the conference, participants presented five community awareness campaigns conducted in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Diyala, and Anbar. Each campaign addressed themes of hate speech prevention, countering violent extremism, and promoting coexistence.
Aya Hisham Ismail from Nineveh shared: “I learned that dialogue is not just a discussion, it’s a tool for building trust among those who differ. Today, Mosul’s youth speak of shared futures, not division”
From Anbar University, Dr. Tareq Hamed Al-Fahdawi highlighted that their campaign “shifted the conversation on extremism from blame to collective responsibility,” noting that youth are now acting as agents of protection and peace. He also emphasized how the project helped activate UN Security Council Resolution 2250 in Anbar after the ISIS era, grounding youth efforts in sustainable frameworks for change.
Zaid Abbas – Coordinator of the Volunteers Program in Basra: "The project has opened wide avenues for collaboration with the local government and provided youth with a genuine platform to drive change and empowerment, particularly in areas of countering violent extremism, building peace, and serving their communities while enhancing their participation in decision-making."
Dhuha Mustafa – Coordinator of the Baghdad Volunteers Team: "Engaging youth in community and political work is key to building a peaceful society. Youth represent the true force for change and combating extremism, transforming their participation into tangible impact within their communities."
During the conference, participants also discussed pathways for the officially registration and sustainability of youth initiatives. The discussion explored how to align local youth initiatives with Iraq’s National Strategy for Preventing Violent Extremism, stressing that youth inclusion is essential for long-term sustainability.
The closing session featured interactive dialogues with leading participants from the project, including Afrah Faleh Ali from the Committee for Preventing Extremism, Sarah Abdulrazzaq Saleh from the Directorate of Youth and Sports in Basra, and Dr. Tareq from Anbar University, who shared successful examples in integrating youth in peacebuilding and fostering cultures of tolerance and cooperation.
The conference concluded with a joint statement calling for the transition from symbolic participation to meaningful youth engagement in policy-making, and for strengthened partnerships between civil society and institutions to sustain peace across Iraq.
About the organizers
Un Ponte Per
Founded in 1991, UPP is an Italian NGO supporting the Iraqi people through programs in health, education, reconstruction, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. The organization promotes youth and women’s leadership, interfaith dialogue, cultural heritage preservation, and livelihood opportunities across Iraq.
Agency for Peacebuilding
AP is a think-and-do organization bridging research and practice in peacebuilding. AP promotes inclusive and sustainable approaches to conflict transformation and social justice.
Ashur Iraqi Foundation for Relief and Development
ARD is a local NGO active in relief, development, and peacebuilding across Diyala, Babylon, Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Salah al-Din governorates, supporting community resilience and social stability.
Baghdad, Iraq - Media Department, UPP Iraq
