Plenary session 2

Friday/03 May 2019/09:30-11:00/ Baku Convention Centre

Youth4Peace: Building a Counter-Narrative to Violent Extremism - A conversation with the UNAOC

High Representative

The plenary will explore the role of youth and youth-led organizations in Preventing Violent Extremism

through an interactive conversation between the High Representative for UNAOC, Mr. Miguel Angel

Moratinos, and youth leaders. The plenary will feature young UNAOC alumni, who are engaged in countering

violent extremism through their work in promoting intercultural dialogue and interfaith dialogue.

Welcoming remark: Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Moderator: H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

Panelists:

- Anca Gliga, UN Youth Policy specialist - Fatoumata Kebe, Founder of Ephemerides - Pastor James Movel Wuye, Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre - Jorge Antonio Chavez Mazuelos, International Relations Master of Arts Candidate at Central

European University - Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre - Najma Ahmed-Hussein, Knowledge Management and Strategic Communications officer for

Somalia Stabilization Initiative - Liyanaarachchige Neluni Tillekeratne, Co-National Director of Sri Lanka Unites - Nevena Vukasinovic, Senior Sports Account Executive at Burson, Cohn and Wolf - Roda Siad, Documentary Filmmaker - Sara Zaini, Co-Founder and Director of School and Content Development for Emkan

Education - Sarah Markiewicz, Social Cohesion Advisor for Malteser International in Erbil - Selim Cherkaoui, Countering Violent Extremism expert - Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, Founder of the Pakistan Youth Alliance “Peace Rickshaws” Project - Taras Dzyubanskyy, Religious Issues Adviser to the Mayor of Lviv

Org: UNAOC

Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Leyla Ilkham gyzy Aliyeva was born on 3rd July 1985, in Moscow. From 2006 until 2008 Leyla Aliyeva studied for her Master’s degree at MGIMO. Since the 10th of May 2007 Leila Aliyeva has headed the representation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Russian Federation.

In May 2008 she became the General Coordinator of the O.I.C. Youth Forum for international dialogue. Leyla Aliyeva was made the Chair of AYOR – the Azerbaijan Youth Organization of Russia in April 2009.

On November 22nd 2011 Leyla Aliyeva received a special Certificate and Commendation from the United Nations.

Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

H.E. Miguel Angel Moratinos, The High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations,

assumed his new post on 7th January 2019.

Mr. Moratinos has committed his professional and political career to International relationships and

Development Cooperation, notably as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain from 2004 to

2010. During his tenure as Foreign Minister, Spain presided over the UN Security Council in 2004, held the

chairmanships-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of

Europe and the Council of the European Union. Mr. Moratinos succeeded in fostering the implementation of

the Treaty of Lisbon and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

With the Mediterranean in mind, H.E Miguel Angel Moratinos was appointed Deputy Director General for Northern Africa (1987-1991) and then Director of the Institute of Cooperation with the Arab World (1991-1993). After his tenure at the Institute, he was appointed Director General of Foreign Policy for Africa and the Middle East, holding the position from 1993 to 1996. The highlight of his tenure was the organization of the historic Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid, in 1992.

As Spain’s Ambassador in Israel from July to December 1996, Mr. Moratinos succeeded in fostering a strong network with both the Israelis and Palestinians. Building on that success, the European Union appointed him as the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process from December 1996 to June 2003. During this period, he promoted Peace Agreements and carried out actions on behalf of the EU strengthening the Arab-Israeli dialogue.

As a true believer in the value of multilateralism, Mr. Moratinos helped in the creation and launching of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in 2005. He also supported the Group of Friends for UN Reform. Moreover, he contributed to the creation of innovative programs for development, healthcare and women empowerment within the United Nations system. Mr. Moratinos promoted new projects and funds for water and sanitation in Latin American development countries. During his tenure as Spain’s top diplomat, he doubled Official Development Assistance funds and placed Spain as the sixth donor in the United Nations system.

Following the end of his term in office in 2010, Mr. Moratinos engaged in parliamentary activities until November 2011. During that period, he ran to be elected Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with an agenda aiming at mobilizing international action towards the struggle against hunger and poverty, the promotion of food security and the right to food.

In January 2012, he joined the team of the Global Dry Land Alliance in Qatar promoting this international treaty for food security in more than 15 member-countries in all continents. From 2012 to 2013 he was member of the High-level Advisory panel of the president of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Prior to his appointment as High Representative, Mr. Moratinos was the Honorary Chairman of the CIRSD

Board of Advisers (Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development), Senior Advisor of

Sustainable Development Solutions Network of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and member of the

Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). In Spain, he also held

honorary positions as the President of REDS, the Spanish network for Sustainable development affiliated to

SDSN and the President of the Trobades Literàries Mediterràneas Association and the Trobades Albert Camus

Award. In recognition for his distinguished achievements, Mr. Moratinos received honorary doctorates from

the Universities of Saint-Petersburg, Malta, as well as Ben-Gurion, Al-Quds and Tel Aviv universities.

Most recently on 19 March 2019, Mr. Moratinos was awarded with the "League of Arab States" Award by

Mr. Ahmed Abulgheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, in a ceremony in Madrid in

recognition for his role in strengthening Arab-Spanish relations.

Born in 1951, Mr. Moratinos graduated in Law and Political Sciences at the University Complutense in Madrid and then in Diplomatic Studies at the Spanish Diplomatic School.

Mr. Moratinos is married to Mrs. Dominque Moratinos and has two daughters and one son.

Anca Gliga, UN Youth Policy specialist

As a global youth advocate, Anca has been heavily involved in the realization of SCR 2250 and the

Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security (2018). She was invited as a speaker to two side

events held in the margin of the “Security Council Open Debate on Youth, Peace and Security” organized in

April 2018 at UNHQ. During her interventions, she urged the UN and Member States to involve young people

in building peace and to commit their financial, social and political support to youth-led peace-building

initiatives.

Fatoumata Kebe, Founder of Ephemerides

Dr. Kébé is a French astrophysicist and educator. She specialises in space debris. She was named as one

of Vanity Fair's Most Influential French People in the world in 2018. Alongside her research, Dr. Kébé

campaigns to improve access to astronomy and physics. She founded Ephemerides, a programme that

provides astronomy classes for high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. She teaches students

12 to 15 years old and works with four middle schools in disenfranchised neighbourhoods of the Parisian

suburbs. In 2018, she launched Ephemerides in Bamako

Pastor James Movel Wuye and Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Co-Executive Directors of the

Interfaith Mediation Centre

Co-Executive Directors of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, were former adversaries. Their own experience of

reconciliation led them to work for an end to inter-ethnic religious violence. Their activity is a case study of

a successful grassroots initiative to rebuild conflict-affected communities. As hostilities have increased

between farmers and pastoralists, they have increasingly worked in partnership with relevant stakeholders

on mediation, and searched for means for livelihood collaboration and restoration of the land on which they

all depend.

Jorge Antonio Chavez Mazuelos, International Relations Master of Arts Candidate at Central

European University

Prior to starting his MA in International Relations, Mr. Chavez Mazuelos has served as the Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation´s Youth Forum and as a mentor with the Youth Ambassadors Programme with South America. Mr. Chavez Mazuelos was also a consultant with the Peruvian government on Youth related issues. During his term as International Relations Coordinator at a Peruvian university, he founded USIL Ambassadors, Peru´s biggest international university club.

Najma Ahmed-Hussein, Knowledge Management and Strategic Communications officer for Somalia

Stabilization Initiative

Ms. Ahmed-Hussein works in Knowledge Management and Strategic Communications officer for the Somalia

Stabilization Initiative, funded by the USAID and implemented by IOM. Based on an M&E audit of the

intiative’s activities, she develops lessons learned and guidance documents on areas related to youth

engagement and PVE. Prior to this, Ms. Ahmed-Hussein worked for on developing the Niger Community

Cohesion Initiative, an IOM programme seeking to reduce the threats of violent extremism and armed

conflict through small-scale cross-sectorial activities in the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi and Agadez.

Nevena Vukasinovic, Senior Sports Account Executive at Burson, Cohn and Wolf

Ms. Vukašinovic is is vice-president of the European Non-Governmental Youth Sports Organization and focal

point of UN’s Major Group of Children and Youth. Encouraging exchange among UN and International

Olympic Committee, she has co-founded “Road to 2030 – SDGs through sports with youth” programme. She

works on fostering entrepreneurial mind-sets and new (ICT & soft) skills among youth in Europe and the

MENA region for them to develop sustainable, peaceful and interactive initiatives together.

Roda Siad, Documentary Filmmaker

Ms. Siad is an award-winning documentary filmmaker working on producing films for social change. In 2012,

she co-founded Borderless Films, a Calgary-based independent production company that creates impact

through storytelling. She produced “Living at the Border”, a web documentary that shares the stories of

African migrants and asylum seekers living in Italy. The project won a 2014 Amnesty International Canada

Media Award for best online journalism. Her most recent project, “19 Days” is a short documentary that

explores the settlement experiences of refugee families. The film received several awards and was included

in the Toronto International Film Festival’s Social Justice.

Sara Zaini, Co-Founder and Director of School and Content Development for Emkan Education

Ms. Zaini is the Co-Founder and Director of the School and Content Development of Emkan Education, an

education consultancy and school development company. Ms. Zaini managed multiple school development

projects in Saudi Arabia, she also led the development of the Arab International Portal, an international

platform developed in collaboration with Kunskapsskolan, Sweden. Her experience includes participating in

the development of the National Saudi teacher standards developed by the Education Evaluation

Commission. Ms. Zaini worked as a lecturer at King Abdulaziz University and as a special education teacher.

Sarah Markiewicz, Social Cohesion Advisor for Malteser International in Erbil

Dr. Markiewicz is the Social Cohesion Advisor at Malteser International in Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq. As such she

implements projects with local NGOs, community influencers and mediators in peace education and women

and youth empowerment, with an important component of interfaith dialogue. Prior to that, she was a

lecturer of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology at Humboldt University in Berlin. Her work focused

on the promotion of dialogue, religious literacy and peacebuilding through inter-faith and intra-faith

understanding. Dr. Markiewicz focuses on has conducted research across Europe and the MENA region on

the topic of interfaith dialogue, engaging with faith leaders, scholars, think-tanks, NGOs and refugees.

Selim Cherkaoui, Countering Violent Extremism expert and Programme Manager at the European

Foundation for Democracy

Mr. Cherkaoui is a Countering Violent Extremism expert and Programme Manager at the European

Foundation. As such he has worked on countering violent extremism in prison. His experience and fields of

activity include violent radicalization prevention and de-radicalization. Designing tailor-made programmes

for disengagement from violence, Mr. Cherkaoui is, above all, a front-line practitioner. He personally meets

young individuals incarcerated for violent extremism/terrorism offences to initiate with them curative work

on resilience and acceptance of responsibility for their actions.

Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, Founder of the Pakistan Youth Alliance “Peace Rickshaws” Project

Mr. Zaidi is the Founder of the Pakistan Youth Alliance “Peace Rickshaws” Project. Over the years he has led

several movements and projects to present counter-narratives to extremism, to de-radicalize youth and to

engage diverse communities in Pakistan in a collective dialogue for tolerance. In 2012, he cretaed the Peace

Rickshaws Project as an effective way to initiate conversations on peace and has since been spearheading

the initiative. Peace Rickshaws Project - Pakistan Youth Alliance uses the canvas of auto-rickshaws and

medium of pop-art to relay messages of peace, tolerance and interfaith harmony in Pakistan.

Taras Dzyubanskyy, Religious Issues Adviser to the Mayor of Lviv

Dr. Dzyubanskyy the adviser for religious and ecumenical issues to the Mayor of Lviv in Ukraine. In May 2013,

he inaugurated an interfaith centre, “Libertas,” the first of its kind in Ukraine. Since its creation, the centre

has held over 40 ecumenical and interreligious events to promote dialogue and understanding among

different religious groups. Dr. Dzyubanskyy has been awarded with several distinctions related to his

innovative approach on interfaith dialogue and social issues. He also teaches at the Ukrainian Catholic

University in Lviv, Ukraine and coordinates an international group of alumni of the John Paul II Center for

Interreligious Dialogue.

Liyanaarachchige Neluni Tillekeratne, Co-National Director of Sri Lanka Unites

Ms. Teluni is the Co-National Director of Sri Lanka Unites. Through her organization, she created a peace

education curriculum and developed an agreement with the Ministry of Education to form Sri Lanka Unites

Clubs. In 2019, they expect to share the curriculum with 200 schools. In June 2018, Sri Lanka Unites was given

the opportunity to share lessons learnt from its work with youth peace building at the “International

Conference on Trends in Youth Radicalization in South Asia” organized by the Regional Center for Strategic

Studies, (Global partnership for the prevention of Armed Conflict, and UNOY (United Network for Young

Peace-builders).