The European Confederation of Youth Clubs express its distress regarding the escalation of violence and current armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

ECYC condemns the use of force and regrets the loss of life and the price paid by the civilian population. Targeting the peaceful population and the civilian settlements resulting in casualties and deaths, and severe damages to infrastructures, such as youth and cultural centres, bringing environmental disasters are not acceptable in any case.

As a pan-European organization reaching over 1.2 million young people engaged in youth clubs and other forms of neighbourhood youth work, young people from both sides of the conflict have participated in our educational activities. We fear for their safety and that of all young people affected by the violence in the region. We are extremely worried regarding their immediate physical wellbeing, as well as the long-term impact that current events have on their emotional and mental health, and educational development chances.

In today’s world, young people are facing huge global challenges such as climate change, unemployment, social disparity, forced migration and displacement, or the effects of the COVID-19 sanitary and humanitarian crisis. Young people should not have to experience armed conflict participation and arms-related harm. Young people need peaceful and intercultural opportunities for growth, allowing them to develop the skills necessary for the support and involvement in democratic and inclusive societies.

Young people and youth organisations can provide a vital contribution to the advancement and promotion of long-lasting peace, our core values of human rights, peace, security, environmental protection, and promotion of tolerance. We call on them to not spread hate speech or messages that further encourage violence. 

We urge for an immediate end to the fighting and call on all involved to revert to a non-violent situation and to take immediate steps to de-escalate the conflict and engage in a dialogue leading to a stable peaceful solution.