The Network for Dialogue was launched by the International Dialogue Centre KAICIID in 2019 in order to bring together local faith actors and dialogue practitioners from a range of European countries to empower interreligious and intercultural action for social inclusion of refugees and migrants.

This policy brief highlights the crucial role of religious leaders and local authorities to engage young people when addressing their social and economic exclusion in promoting cohesive urban communities. As Europe becomes increasingly urbanised, cities can play a pivotal role in actively engaging young people’s talents and bridging intergenerational gaps, harnessing the key role of religious leaders and actors. This policy brief advocates systemic youth participation in decision-making, emphasising the importance of dialogue across religious, cultural and generational divides to enable effective youth leadership. To achieve impact, these efforts should include open and frank discussions on contentious issues important to young people, such as diversity, inclusion, equity and equal participation. By outlining the challenges of marginalisation and the power dynamics young people face, particularly those from minority groups, this policy brief points to successful participatory governance models in European cities as examples of how to empower youth. When religious and secular leaders adopt approaches that resonate with young people’s values and aspirations, they foster a conducive environment for meaningful community engagement that can unlock the changemaking potential of young people.

This policy brief highlights how cities are in a unique position to foster a safe and supportive environment for young refugees and migrants by enacting tailored policies that emphasise social inclusion over immigration status. As integration is a two-way process that involves both newcomers and host communities, using dialogical approaches is crucial for fostering positive attitudes towards migrants and making them feel like valued members of the community. The mutual learning and exploration of differences that emerge through dialogue methods are critical in providing the necessary emotional infrastructure that fosters social cohesion at community level. This process helps both the host community and migrants develop a sense of belonging. Building strong partnerships between religious and secular actors in urban areas is crucial for leveraging the transformative power of interreligious dialogue. This approach aims to welcome and embrace the ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity of young refugees and migrants. Drawing on experiences from across European cities, this policy brief introduces the concept of a ‘Europe of Sanctuary Cities’, where policies and emotional attitudes work together to transform local communities into hubs of social cohesion, shared prosperity and common values.

In the ‘post-truth era’, polarised opinions and knowledge fragmentation make it particularly challenging for young people to orient themselves and make sense of the world. Biased narratives and expressions of hate, exacerbated by echo chambers and artificial intelligence, significantly increase the risk that young social media users create or spread discriminatory content or become victims of hate speech. This can lead to long-lasting psychological and physical harm. Derogatory language often targets religious or ethnic communities, further inflamed by structural discrimination and boosted by the vicious spirals of algorithms.

Based on experiences across Europe, this policy brief reflects on how to prevent young people from becoming involved in hate speech, both as victims and perpetrators, thanks to renewed alliances between secular and religious actors. Policymakers and faith leaders are encouraged to resort to interreligious and intercultural dialogue as a powerful tool that promotes mutual understanding and appreciation over mistrust and harmful stereotypes.