DPI Comparative Study Visit: ‘Youth Engagement in Conflict Resolution Processes’, Edinburgh, 9-13 December 2019

From Monday 9 December to Friday 13 December, DPI held a Comparative Study Visit as part of its youth engagement series and following on from 2018’s visit to Dublin and Belfast and the London and Cardiff activity earlier this year. This CSV brought together a group of young participants from across Turkey’s many constituencies, including political party’s youth representatives, civil society workers, social workers, university students, academics and conflict resolution workers. This activity completed the series of CSV’s which have explored the systems of devolution in operation across the UK by visiting Edinburgh in Scotland. Participants continued their engagement with important conflict resolution principles, including how young people themselves can overcome the barriers to their inclusion and meaningfully contribute to resolution processes. In addition, participants explored the unique power-sharing arrangement that’s in place between Scotland and Westminster and the scrutiny it is currently facing with renewed discussion over the future status of Scotland. Participants engaged in a wide range of sessions which saw them interact with speakers from the Scottish Government External Affairs Directorate; the UK’s Government’s Scotland Office; Members of the Scottish Parliament; representatives from the Scottish Youth Parliament; the Political Settlements Research Programme; and academic from the University of Edinburgh; Beyond Borders Scotland; and United Nations House Scotland. The CSV forms part of a larger series of activities planned in the context of the project: “Supporting inclusive dialogue at a challenging time in Turkey”, supported by the EU and the Irish, Dutch and Norwegian governments.