Tirana, 29 October 2025 – The conference on “Recalling UNSCR 1325 & 2242: Women, Youth and Local Security Councils as Key Actors in Shaping Community Safety and Preventing Violent Extremism” was held in honor of the 25^th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The event brought together institutional representatives, academics, civil society organizations, and peace activists to reflect on the progress, challenges and shared vision for advancing the implementation of this global agenda at both national and local levels.

The conference was organized by the Woman Center for Development and Culture Albania (WCDCA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism, the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana and supported by ICAN (International Civil Society Action Network) as part of its initiatives promoting inclusive peace and the empowerment of women and youth in security policymaking.

In their opening remarks, the National Coordinator / Director of the CVE Center, Ms. Dervishi and the Director of the State Police, Mr. Proda, emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of women and youth in decision-making, security and peacebuilding processes at both local and national levels. They highlighted the progress in increasing female representation within the State Police and the Armed Forces, with a 15% rise as a result of gender equality and integration policies.

UN Resolutions 1325 and 2242 recognize the role of women not only as victims of conflict but as key actors in preventing violence, mediating disputes and building sustainable peace.

During the conference, participants presented the main results and outputs of the project “Developing Research Capacities in Preventing Violent Extremism, Revitalizing Local Public Security Councils and Implementing Resolution 1325”. The project aimed to strengthen local security mechanisms by promoting the engagement of women and youth in dialogue and inter-institutional cooperation processes.

Key project outputs included:

• The Institutional Training Manual on Resolution 1325 – A practical guide for integrating gender perspectives into security policies;
• The Student Research Bulletin – A compilation of studies and analyses on the role of youth in preventing violent extremism;
• Action Plans for the Local Public Security Councils of Librazhd and Cërrik – Concrete models of collaboration between institutions, academia, and communities.

The conference reaffirmed a collective vision for inclusive security, emphasizing continued commitment to the Intersectoral Strategy for the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Counter-Terrorism 2023-2025, and the National Action Plan for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda 2023-2025.

It also emphasized that building safe and inclusive communities requires empowering women, youth and local security structures as frontline actors of change, prevention and social mediation.

In conclusion, the event was described as a bridge connecting local experiences with global commitments, promoting a culture of peace and cooperation across all levels of Albanian society.