Last week, Nova Gorica and Gorizia hosted the twelfth edition of the OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women, a training programme promoted by the OSCE Missions in Kosovo and Serbia that brings together 24 young women from their respective areas of operation. From 8 October until Friday, 16 October, the initiative offered an intensive programme focused on dialogue, mediation, trust-building, and the participation of women in peace processes and public life. Through workshops, interactive lectures, exchanges with experts, and field activities, participants had the opportunity to develop practical skills and deepen their understanding of cooperation, leadership, and the transformation of conflicts into opportunities for growth and dialogue within communities. The choice of the Nova Gorica-Gorizia cross-border area was no coincidence, but reflected the intention to provide a concrete example of cooperation beyond borders and the building of lasting relationships between different communities.

The OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) is the world’s largest regional security organization, working in the fields of security, political dialogue, conflict prevention, human rights protection, democratic institutions, and the rule of law. It brings together 57 participating States from Europe, Central Asia, and North America. Its activities include monitoring tensions and conflicts, supporting dialogue and reconciliation processes, promoting democratic participation, and strengthening cooperation between communities and institutions.

Active since 2015, the Dialogue Academy for Young Women is one of the initiatives through which the OSCE promotes dialogue and mutual understanding among young people from different backgrounds. Each year, the programme brings together participants selected through a competitive process and provides them with a safe space to engage in discussions on mediation, peacebuilding, gender equality, and civic participation. The 2026 edition of the Dialogue Academy is the result of cooperation between the OSCE Missions in Serbia and Kosovo and the EGTC GO, identified as the ideal partner to guide participants in discovering one of Europe’s most significant examples of cross-border cooperation. At the end of the programme, participants join the Dialogue Academy alumnae network, which continues to promote dialogue activities and peace initiatives at the regional level.

The programme in Nova Gorica and Gorizia combined training sessions, practical exercises, and study visits. Particular attention was devoted to the cross-border experience between Italy and Slovenia through a study tour along the border and meetings dedicated to the transformation of an area once divided into a space of European cooperation. On Wednesday, 14 October, participants met with Romina Kocina, Director of EGTC GO, and Ezio Benedetti, European Projects Coordinator of EGTC GO, who presented the institutional and territorial integration process developed in recent years. The programme also featured contributions from Professor Robert Devetak of the University of Nova Gorica, Stojan Pelko, former Artistic Director of the official GO! 2025 programme, and former OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, as well as several professionals from the cultural sector of our area. Vesna Humar, President of EGTC GO, addressed participants during the closing evening.