Press Release

YOUNG TAKE LEAD ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

17 April 2008

One in three young people say terrorism has affected their confidence when meeting people and making new friends from different communities and backgrounds, according to a UK Youth Parliament survey of over 300 young people in the East Midlands.

Days after the Home Secretary stressed the scale of terrorist threats to Britain, young people are taking this finding to the US Embassy in London and debating the threat of terrorism, extremism and national security. They will examine US policy and call for young people across the UK to talk more openly about terrorism and extremism.

What: Youth debate on terrorism, extremism and national security
When: Tonight (Thursday 17th April), 6.30-8pm
Where: US Embassy, London

Andy Hamflett, Chief Executive of UK Youth Parliament said,

“Many young people feel that terrorism has had a major impact on their lives, but they are afraid to talk about it. Growing up against the backdrop of September 11th and the July 7th attacks on London has had a profound effect on a generation of young people, but shockingly many haven’t been given the space to talk about the issues surrounding terrorism or been give the chance to contribute to possible solutions.

“The debate in the US Embassy is the start of a series of initiatives the UK Youth Parliament and the Association of Chief Police Officers are taking around the UK to enable young people to talk about extremism and terrorism in safe environments.”

Jaffer Hussain, leading on the debates at the US Embassy, 20 years-old, commented,

“Terrorism is a taboo subject. Whenever young people try and talk about it they are met with a wall of silence from parents, teachers or adults in general. Young people do not want the issue of terrorism or extremism to be brushed under the carpet. They want to talk about it in the open and they want their concerns and proposals to be taken seriously by decision makers.”

The debate is an initiative of the US Embassy, London as part of a series of US Presidential Election debates and is being run in partnership with the UK Youth Parliament and the Association of Chief Police Officers National Community Tension Team.