Final Event: Youth in the City of Peace and Justice

On Thursday, May 22, the festive final event of the Youth in the City of Peace and Justice project took place. It was organized by the Inclusive Education research group of the Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning. This fourth edition brought together young people, students, civil society organizations and partners such as the Municipality of The Hague, Justice & Peace, Digital Child Rights, and The Hague Humanity Hub for an inspiring afternoon of connection, reflection and future-oriented dialogue.

The project aims to engage young people in a creative and interactive way with the core values of The Hague as the International City of Peace and Justice. Over the past few months, participating groups organized a variety of activities, including an escape room, a city-wide scavenger hunt visiting peace and justice institutions, a visit to the International Criminal Court, and a city-wide game addressing themes of peace and justice.

The strength of this project lies in the voices of young people themselves. By truly listening to their perspectives, we are co-creating a city where peace and justice are not just ideals, but lived realities.

- dr. Rosa Groen, senior researcher

A glimpse into ongoing research

The afternoon began with a presentation by dr. Rosa Groen, who, together with dr. Tahir Abbas, co-authored the forthcoming book Voices of Gen Z: Shaping Transitions in the City of Peace and Justice. The book, based on three years of research conducted within the project, will be published this summer as part of the Springer Nature/Pivot Palgrave Child Rights Series.

Next, Tarik Gherbaoui introduced an innovative card set developed by Sofia Stolk (T.M.C. Asser Institute) in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague. The card set offers a low-threshold way for young people to engage in conversations about peace and justice.

Student projects and youth perspectives

Student teams presented their final projects, after which one team was selected as the winner. Guest speakers Benjamin Duerr and Marija Pop Trajkova offered inspiring insights into the history of The Hague and gave a preview of the upcoming Just Peace Festival, taking place from June 12 to 26.

The event concluded with a festive reception, where participants, partners and guests came together to celebrate collaboration, creativity, and the vital role of youth in shaping a just and peaceful city.

More information about the project, please reach out to dr. Rosa Groen ([email protected]).