Shouting, not shooting, will tackle youth engagement

The terrible and tragic events in France in January generated immediate public concerns and political questions about security and counter-terrorism.

But bubbling under will have to be a very different debate about fundamentalism and the propensity of some to embrace violent extremism on the streets of the neighbourhoods where they grew up. Invariably, these are young people.

The last time the banlieue of Paris attracted international attention was a decade ago when armed police were not the celebrated heroes of recent days, but alleged racists criticised for over-reacting to the criminal behaviour of young men from immigrant backgrounds. As a result, some districts of Paris went up in flames as their youth confronted the forces of law and order. The Council of Europe discussed the issue and representative youth organisations called loudly and clearly for more youth participation. It was imperative, they said, to reach out more effectively and hear the voices, perspectives and aspirations of "disaffected" youth. Shortly afterwards, a key strand of the Council of Europe's youth agenda was committed to addressing "living together in diverse societies".