Building Inclusive and Resilient Communities (2021-2026) – from results to sustainable policies

The Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA) held the final event of the project “Building Inclusive and Resilient Communities” in Skopje on March 25.2026, where the results of the five-year implementation were presented and an expert discussion was opened on the current security challenges related to radicalization and violent extremism. The event was attended by representatives from institutions, the security sector, embassies, the academic community, civil society organizations and international partners, with the aim of exchanging experiences and promoting dialogue for the development of efficient and sustainable policies in the field of preventing violent extremism.

In the introductory part, Pavle Trajanov, National Coordinator for Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism, emphasized that, despite the current global conflicts, the Republic of North Macedonia remains stable for the time being. He pointed out that maintaining stability requires internal cohesion and institutional coordination, with global developments having direct implications for the economy, energy and security situation. Vesa Kelmendi, Regional Advisor at the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), emphasized that the forms of violent extremism are continuously changing and transforming into new forms, with the region also facing politically motivated extremism. She pointed to the existence of structural weaknesses in prevention systems and emphasized the need to invest in tolerance, peace and work with vulnerable groups.

The results of the project were presented by Jasna Orovchanec Arangelovik, Project Manager in MYLA, who pointed out that the project covered activities in ten municipalities and involved institutions on central level, local communities, media and the education sector. The project implemented  50+ Local Multidisciplinary Teams (LMT) meetings and 15 workshop trainings and workshops, 6 coordinative meetings between National Committee for PVE/CT and GCERF Consortiums, 10 workshops and 60 mentorship sessions for social workers, 106 workshops with children, nine multi-ethnic camps, 34 workshops with parents and teachers, eight trainings for journalists, three media analyses, as well as the documentary film “Broken Chains: Returning after ISIS”. She pointed out the insufficient coordination between prison teams and LMT, as well as the need to establish a clear and functional legal framework. The risk of online radicalization among children from an early age was particularly emphasized.

During the first panel, Boban Stojanovski, an expert on security and counterterrorism and previous Agency for National Security member of the National Committee for PVE/CT, pointed out that the focus in the past period has been predominantly on religious extremism, while other forms of extremism with different ideological grounds have remained insufficiently addressed. He also addressed the role of social networks as means of propaganda and radicalization, as well as the risks associated with returnees from foreign battlefields. Elena Kuzmanovska, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and member of the National Committee for PVE/CT, addressed hybrid and online threats, the role of the media and the impact of new technologies, emphasizing that the state, as a candidate country for membership in the European Union, must act in accordance with European policies and international law.

Marjan Gjurovski, professor at the Institute for Security, Defense and Peace at the Faculty of Philosophy – UKIM Skopje, warned that, in addition to Islamic extremism, there are other forms of radicalization, including Orthodox extremism and pro-Russian influences. He pointed out the risks associated with the participation of Macedonian citizens in foreign conflicts and the abuse of fan groups, emphasizing the need for enhanced institutional coordination. Nela Jakšić, a geopolitical analyst, noted that current geopolitical developments, especially the war in Iran, go beyond the classic security and economic frameworks and contribute to the disruption of transatlantic relations and the disclosure of security weaknesses in Europe. According to her, energy and economic disruptions, together with information chaos, increase the risk of radicalization, with online space increasingly being used for mobilization, and certain objects becoming potential security targets.

Within the second panel, Aleksandar Karapetrov, representative of the National Committee for Preventing Violent Extremism and Combating Terrorism, opened the dilemma of the boundaries between freedom of communication and radicalization in the digital space, pointing out the need for careful definition of the legal framework. Aleksandar Grizhev, professor at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” – Skopje, emphasized that online radicalization today is not only a security, but also a social challenge, as it affects the trust, cohesion and resilience of communities. Therefore, the response must not be only reactive, but must include early recognition, coordination between institutions and strong prevention, especially among young people. For inclusive and resilient communities, investments must be made in security, education and digital literacy at the same time. Biljana Risteska, representative of the National Center for a Safer Internet at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, pointed out that children represent a particularly vulnerable category, with the role of the school and the family being crucial, given that radicalization often continues outside the education system. Vlado Dimovski, representative from the partner organization “Center for Tolerance and Lifelong Learning”, through a series of examples from their work with children, teachers and parents within the project, emphasized that the children are the most vulnerable and that they need stable, informed and sensitive support from the adults around them.

The project “Building Inclusive and Resilient Communities” was implemented by the Macedonian Association of Young Lawyers in partnership with the Center for Common Ground, the Center for Tolerance and Lifelong Learning, and Open Gate “La Strada”, with the support of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF). The implementation  in the period from 2021 to 2026, is based on an integrated approach that unites the three key components – prevention, protection and response, with the aim of improving the national and local system for dealing with radicalization and violent extremism.

The project implemented activities aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms, including a systematic review of existing processes for the prevention of violent extremism and reintegration, repatriation and resocialization (RRR), as well as the development of operational documents for the functioning of local multidisciplinary teams (LMTs). Through coordination with national bodies and relevant institutions, inter-institutional cooperation was improved and foundations were established for a more efficient functioning of the system. In addition, the project contributed to strengthening the capacities of professionals from different sectors – education, health, social protection and security – through the implementation of thematic trainings, mentoring sessions and the development of a manual on psychosocial support and dealing with trauma. These activities enabled the advancement of practical knowledge and skills needed to work with persons at risk of radicalization, as well as with returnees and their families.

A segment of the project was focused on the local level, where children, parents, teachers, as well as representatives of local institutions were involved through educational activities and interventions. Workshops, multi-ethnic camps, trainings and events were implemented to strengthen social cohesion, develop critical thinking and improve capacities for non-violent conflict resolution. In parallel, the project contributed to improving public narratives and media reporting on topics related to radicalization, through the preparation of media reporting analyses, training for journalists and the production of video content and a documentary film. These activities aimed to encourage responsible, balanced and informed reporting.

During implementation, the project directly reached a total of 4,575 people, unique participants, including 620 representatives from institutions, 60 representatives from civil society organizations, 1,100 community representatives, 195 media workers and 2,600 children, parents and educational staff. In addition, through activities aimed at building trust and reducing stigmatization, the project contributed to improving the acceptance of returnees and their families in the communities, which is a key prerequisite for successful reintegration and long-term prevention.

The project conclusions indicate that effective prevention of radicalization requires continuous strengthening of institutional capacities, functional coordination between relevant stakeholders and active involvement of local communities. At the same time, the need to transform the achieved results into long-term policies and mechanisms that will ensure sustainability and a systemic response to security challenges is emphasized.