The "Second International Conference on Youth Volunteering and Dialogue: Preventing Violent Extremism and Strengthening Social Inclusion" will take place at the UNESCO headquarters from 25th to 27th September, 2017, with over 100 international participants.

The young volunteers will come from all regions, predominantly from the Arab countries but also from Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.

The conference will focus on four thematic areas: refugees and migration; youth volunteers spearheading inclusion; the importance of intercultural education; and the role of the media and social media in constructing positive dialogue and youth engagement with cultural heritage and the arts.

Through four workshops, interactive discussions and side events, the young participants will present their volunteering experiences and best practices across the domains of UNESCO’s competence. They will highlight the importance of youth engagement in volunteering with regards to contemporary issues related to social inclusion and the prevention of violent extremism.

The young participants will submit individual or collective action plans to illustrate their future commitment in volunteering to advance a dialogue on the emerging issues raised within the conference.

This second conference builds on the first event held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in December 2013. It will be an opportunity to showcase the concrete steps taken by the involved participants.

This initiative is within the framework of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Programme for a Culture of Peace and Dialogue and the implementation of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2016-2017), which UNESCO spearheads for the United Nations. The Decade helps address major pressing global challenges through inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue for deepened understanding and co-operation for peace.