Press Release

Council of Europe Office in Georgia

26, Kakabadzeebi Brothers street, 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel.: +995 32 291 38 70 / 71 / 72 / 73
Fax: +995 32 291 38 74
E-mail: informtbilisi@coe.int
www.coe.ge

The camp, which runs until 30 June, is being held at the Strasbourg European Youth Centre, which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year.  

There are 51 participants from conflict-stricken regions: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Kosovo (various communities), Georgia, the Russian Federation, and the Palestinian National Authority.  

The objective is to engage young people and youth organisations in dialogue and conflict transformation activities through human rights education and intercultural learning, to leave them with positive experiences of living and learning with others. The peace camp provides a unique opportunity for many young people to meet their neighbours from "the other side" of the conflict face to face for the first time.

Success-story

Following the 2011 Peace Camp, six Israeli and Palestinian participants have decided to hold regular monthly meetings on the so-called "green line", creating a joint group engaged in community work. 

The Council of Europe has also created 75 Youth Peace Ambassadors, the result of an idea put forward by the youth leaders who sit side by side with government officials to decide on the Organisation’s policies, programmes and priorities regarding young people. This power-sharing system (known as  “co-management”) is unique in the world. 

Deputy Secretary General's quote for the media

Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said: "Since 40 years, the Council of Europe has been promoting policies to build trust and to foster dialogue among young people from different communities. Today, our young generations are affected by the growth of nationalism in Europe and social unrest resulting from the financial crisis. Exclusion of social groups is not an answer. Young people are too often involved in violent conflicts against their will. Peace cannot be built without respect for human rights and no democracy is possible without diversity.  These youth camps allow young people from different communities to get together in a safe environment: they learn from each other and from the trainers, but we also learn a great deal from them".  

Contact :

For more information see: www.coe.int  / www.coe.ge

Council of Europe Office in Georgia