INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ADOPTS “BAKU YOUTH INITIATIVE” DOCUMENT

Baku, 10 November,(AzerTAj) - International conference on “Various forms of Islamophobia and Xenophobia: their impact on youth and the youth role in preventing them” concluded in Baku on November 8.

The conference was held under patronage of Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Youth and Tourism, the European Council, ISESCO, European Youth Forum and Organization of the Islamic Conference, bringing together some 124
attendees from 43 countries.

Addressing the conference participants, Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov
said that the international team has made a good job, holding discussions, and
sharing the experiences on methods and practices against islamophobia, anti-Semitism
and other forms of religious discrimination. The Baku Youth Initiative, adopted by
conference attendees, will undoubtedly contribute to youth`s benefit and also
encourage a dialogue internationally, according to the minister.
The conference attendees have also analyzed a situation of religious discrimination
in Europe and beyond generally, and studied the various means of future cooperation
between youth organizations and institutions to develop joint projects and support
the youth network.
Ralf-Rene Weingartner, the Director of the Directorate of Youth and Sports of the
Council of Europe, stressed that the Baku Youth Initiative principles are based on
fight against islamophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and other manifestation of
racial and religious intolerance.
The new conference on islamophobia and xenophobia will be carried out next year in
Kazan, Tatarstan.