As part of the annual Youth Peace Week Finland’s programme and to mark the International Day of Peace, CMI brings together a panel of voices from Armenia, Finland and Palestine to discuss youth perspectives on polarisation. The webinar is open to all through registration and will take place on Monday, 21 September 2026, at 15:00–16:15 EEST.
The webinar examines polarisation from a youth perspective across three distinct contexts: Armenia, Finland, and Palestine. The panel aims to unpack the key drivers of polarisation in each context, young people’s experiences of living in polarised environments, and the implications of polarisation for social cohesion and peace in society. It also explores how young people may actively contest, counter, or contribute to polarisation.
Programme
15:00–15:10 Opening remarks by Johanna Poutanen, Head of Inclusion and Digital Innovation, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation
15:10–16:00 Panel discussion:
- Liana Vahanyan is a youth worker and peacebuilder from Armenia, working across the South Caucasus on youth participation, peacebuilding, and peace education.
- Atta Khaled is a Palestinian communications professional and researcher focused on youth-led development, inclusive peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction.
- Heta Uhtio is a Finnish youth activist engaged in questions of youth participation, equality, and societal change.
- Panel is moderated by Shekeba Ahmadi, Project Officer, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation.
16:00–16:15 Q&A
The webinar will be held in English.
To participate, all participants are kindly asked to register by 19 September 2026 through the link.
