We, the young people of the Western Balkans, and our fellow peacebuilders and allies from across Europe and beyond, gathered in Tirana from December 17th to 20th, 2024, for the Tirana Youth Summit under the theme “Loud Resistance”. United in our commitment to democracy, peace, justice, and reconciliation, we came together to uphold the hard-fought gains of democratic and reconciliation processes, and to lay the foundation for youth-driven positive change. 

Recalling the conclusions of previous Youth Summits held across the region and reaffirming our shared commitment to a peaceful, democratic, and united Europe;

Recognizing the rising challenges we face – including growing authoritarianism, unresolved legacies of war, socio-economic exclusion, discrimination, disinformation, and the erosion of democratic institutions;

Acknowledging the invaluable mentorship of regional experts and activists who supported our dialogue and shaped our vision;

We, as the pro-democratic youth of the Western Balkans, proclaim the following.

We recognize that: 

  • Almost twenty five years after the end of last Yugoslav war, our region still struggles with unresolved war legacies, ethnic divisions, historical revisionism, and fragile reconciliation; Democratic institutions are increasingly undermined by authoritarian practices, executive overreach, and limited public accountability; 
  • Minority and marginalized communities – including Roma, migrants, LGBTIQ+, persons with disabilities, and women – continue to face systemic discrimination, exclusion, and violence; 
  • The rapid spread of disinformation, including through AI-driven technologies, threatens trust, truth, and peace in our region; Anti-gender movements, both global and local, endanger the rights and safety of women and other marginalized groups, particularly in digital spaces.

We commit ourselves to:

  • Promote youth-led reconciliation and transitional justice efforts, grounded in truth-telling, inclusive remembrance, and active regional cooperation.
  • Empower youth as key actors of change by ensuring their meaningful participation in public policy, civic life, and cross-border initiatives.
  • Foster inclusive societies through programs that support minority rights, multicultural education, equitable political participation, and equal access to services.
  • Counter disinformation and propaganda by supporting ethical journalism, media literacy education, and regional mechanisms for media accountability.
  • Defend and advance democracy by demanding institutional transparency, strengthening civil society, and promoting political pluralism and citizen participation.
  • Advance gender equality and women’s rights by combating digital and gender-based violence, promoting youth-led feminist movements, and challenging patriarchal norms at all levels.

We demand that national governments:

  • Ensure the independence of the judiciary and accountability for war crimes across the region and full cooperation with the IRMCT; 
  • Engage in inclusive memorialization, provide equal recognition of all civilian victims, and end the glorification of war criminals; 
  • Reject nationalist rhetoric and historical revisionism, and support cross-border education initiatives that promote peace and truth; 
  • Provide politically independent funding for civil society organizations, particularly those led by and for youth; 
  • Guarantee inclusive education and political representation for marginalized communities, and ensure access to services and opportunities for all; 
  • Promote multilingual education, improve integration policies for migrants and ensure their rights;
  • Enforce ethical journalism, introduce anti-SLAPP laws, and develop regulations that ensure ethical AI use and protect personal data;
  • Promote gender equality by enforcing legal protections, recognizing digital violence, and investing in women’s financial and digital literacy.

We call for :

  • Regional cooperation on the protection of memory, transitional justice, and the peaceful resolution of disputes;
  • Stronger protections against disinformation and AI-driven manipulation, including legal frameworks, cross-sector collaboration, and public education;
  • A unified regional response to the anti-gender movement, rooted in solidarity, feminist values, and the protection of bodily autonomy and digital safety;
  • Public and civic spaces where young people, minorities, and marginalized voices can speak and be heard without fear.
  • We believe that the future of the Western Balkans lies in truth, justice, solidarity, and a democratic Europe, and that this future must be shaped with youth, not in our absence.

In Tirana, Albania

 December 20th, 2024