Youth in the Balkans: Settling up their parents’ wars

In the complex landscape of the Western Balkans, young people face the challenge of confronting unresolved legacies of conflict while paving new paths toward lasting peace. This panel will explore the critical role of youth in reconciliation efforts across the region, with insights from panelists who are participants in the BSC Young Leaders Program, an annual gathering of 30 young people from the WB6. Panelists will discuss the extent to which young voices are represented in dominant peacebuilding initiatives, examining both successful contributions and enduring challenges within past efforts. Topics will include lessons learned from previous reconciliation attempts, significant youth-led achievements, and ongoing obstacles that hinder progress. The discussion will also envision future strategies for building resilience, fostering intercultural understanding, and creating a more inclusive peacebuilding process that empowers youth across the Balkans to lead the way toward a stable and unified region.