Erbil holding conference on combating violent extremism, youth radicalization 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A non-governmental organization inaugurated a three-day conference on preventing violent extremism and youth radicalization in the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil on Tuesday.

The Erbil-based Spark organization, in cooperation with the Dutch government and Human Security Collective, has organized a masterclass that representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government are participating in, according to the organizers.

Experts from the Netherlands will take part in the conference to discuss the topics and layout a plan to prevent the youth from becoming radicalized, according to an organizer.

The conference advocates “positive community-based and digital approaches” in the Kurdistan Region.

Top government officials and members of the Kurdistan Parliament attended the conference’s inauguration.

“A peaceful society where everybody feels at ease and included; frustrations and exclusion could be addressed” is one of the conference's objectives, according to an organizer.

Through its programs, Spark has previously worked with youth in the fields of employment and entrepreneurship.