Opening a conference on youth in terrorism in Strasbourg, Samuel Vuelta Simon, Justice Secretary of State of Monaco, has spoken of Europe's youth becoming attracted to the flame of terrorism. In his remarks he said that "No country is safe in our interconnected and digital world, especially given the significant evolution of terrorism. The concern is therefore twofold and relates to the growing threat both to states and to the youth of our countries, who can easily be lured, manipulated, and recruited into forms of extreme violence."
The conference was organised by the Council of Europe, bringing together senior government representatives, security and judicial authorities, private-sector actors, disengagement practitioners and partner organisations to examine the growing involvement of young people in terrorism and violent extremism and explore practical responses to reverse this trend.
Youth vulnerabilities and online radicalisation
The conference focused on the social, psychological and identity-related vulnerabilities that may increase young people's exposure to terrorism and violent extremism, together with broader drivers of radicalisation, including extremist rhetoric, misinformation, social tensions and the influence of digital spaces such as social media, online platforms and gaming environments.
"The borderless nature of the Internet means that effective child online protection requires coordination across multiple stakeholders at local, national, regional and international levels. This often poses enforcement gaps that can be exploited by malicious actors," underlined the Executive Director of the UN Security Council counter-terrorism committee executive directorate, Natalia Gherman.
Participants explored coordinated responses involving law enforcement, judicial authorities, social services, educators and private-sector stakeholders, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and resilience-building.
Looking ahead: mapping risks and responses to youth
The conference is part of the Council of Europe's broader efforts to support member states in addressing emerging terrorist threats and thereby strengthening democratic security across Europe.
"At the Council of Europe we have the capacity and the know-how to shape solutions when member states face challenges, and we are ready to work with you at all stages of the efforts needed to tackle this important issue of young people involved in terrorism and violent extremism," said Gianluca Esposito, Council of Europe Director General of human rights and rule of law.
Preventing terrorism: new protocol signed by 10 countries and the European Union
On the occasion of the conference, the protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the prevention of terrorism was opened for signature and signed by Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Sweden and Ukraine, as well as the European Union.
The new protocol provides a clear legal definition of a terrorist offence. It supports the convention's aim of preventing terrorism, both by measures to be taken at national level and through international cooperation.
