CETINJE, 24 March 2026 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism (CCT) held today the second event of its “School Dialogues” initiative, bringing together students, educators, policymakers, law enforcement and civil society at Cetinje Gymnasium in Montenegro.
Building on the successful launch of the initiative in Italy in November 2025, the programme aims to strengthen digital safety, media literacy, and the prevention of youth radicalization to violent extremism. The Cetinje dialogue provided a platform for direct engagement with students, enabling them to share their experiences and contribute concrete ideas to policymakers.
School dialogue, Cetinje, 24 March 2026Speakers at the opening session included CCT Chair Kamil Aydin (Türkiye), OSCE PA CCT member Jevrosima Pejović (Montenegro), Principal of Cetinje Gymnasium Sanja Jelić, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Ambassador Jan Haukaas, Secretary for Education and Youth of Cetinje Dejana Dizdar, and Police representative Kristina Kotur.
“We want to strengthen your awareness of the risks you may encounter online, so that you can better recognize them and reject extremist narratives. We want to offer a platform for you – the students – to share your experiences, perspectives, and concrete ideas” said CCT Chair Kamil Aydin in his exchange with the students. “Finally, as parliamentarians we want to take your messages back to our own parliaments, so that your voices can help shape future national laws and international policies.”
Jevrosima Pejović highlighted the importance of creating a safe space for dialogue and empowering young people to speak openly about their digital experiences. “Security today is no longer only the responsibility of institutions — it begins with each individual,” she said. “That is why it is essential to equip young people with the knowledge and critical thinking needed to navigate the digital world safely.”
School dialogue, Cetinje, 24 March 2026The event gathered approximately 80 students, who participated in a structured programme combining expert input and interactive group work. Expert presentations were delivered by Nenad Vujadinović, media literacy specialist; Anđelija Lučić from the NGO Forum for Youth and Non-Formal Education; and Ena Grbović and Dajana Zečević from the NGO Safer Internet Centre, who presented research on digital violence and youth resilience. Students then worked in small groups focused on three key themes: online safety, media literacy and critical thinking, and the role of institutions.
Through peer exchange and scenario-based analysis, students developed concrete recommendations to address digital risks and strengthen cooperation between schools, families and authorities. These recommendations were presented in plenary and discussed with OSCE PA members and experts, resulting in a consolidated set of student-driven proposals.
Closing the event, OSCE PA Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence and Vice-Chair of the Network of Young Parliamentarians Federica Onori emphasized the importance of integrating youth perspectives into policymaking. “The real question is not whether we regulate artificial intelligence, but who shapes its rules.” she said. “This requires sustained and inclusive dialogue among governments, the private sector and civil society – including young people, as younger generations will both reap the benefits and bear the long-term implications of these technologies.”
CCT members and staff, Cetinje, 24 March 2026Also addressing the participants were Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament of Montenegro Eliza Šećerović and OSCE PA Senior Advisor Marco Bonabello, who highlighted the importance of connecting schools and parliaments to translate youth input into concrete policy action.
The Cetinje event marks the continuation of a broader OSCE PA effort to engage students across the region. Insights from this and future School Dialogues will be consolidated into a set of youth-driven recommendations to inform parliamentary work on countering violent extremism, strengthening digital resilience, and promoting inclusive and participatory policymaking.
For more information on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, please click here.
