YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AS ADVOCATES AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA

According to last issued European Islamophobia report, hate crimes against Muslims in Europe have worsened, if not reached a tipping point over the last two years. The pandemic resulted in relatively fewer physical attacks on Muslims and their places of worship, but that didn't result in less hate speech - there was an increase in online hate speech spacifically. 

Young people are those that are the most affected and vulnerable. Young person who develops negative attitudes towards the others in young age hardly becomes open minded adult - in this way the door to dialogue and peaceful coexistence based on mutual acceptance and understanding are closed even before they were built. The role of youth organization in building those doors and keeping them open is immense. One of the most important tools (youth) organizations have to reach their goal is advocacy. Since human rights approach is extremely important, advocacy is a perfect tool since it is based in persuasion rather than coercion.

AIM of this project is to to support development of competences related to advocacy i.e. train and empower youth workers and leaders to be able to develop, implement and evaluate advocating activities which will tackle the growing issue of islamophobia and result with its reduction and, at the same time, it will act on prevention of youth radicalization through their active engagement.

Objectives: 

O1: to understand the context of Islamophobia better
O2: to support uderstanding of advocacy
O3: to support engagement in advocacy activities with the aim of combating islamophobia
O4: to reflect on the importance of intercultural dialogue

Principles of non-formal learning and inclusive approach to learning will be implemented.