25th University on Youth and Development // AI, Youth, and Peace: Preventing Cybercrime and Digital Harm through Responsible AI Governance.

The University on Youth and Development (UYD) is an international youth event part of the iLEGEND III Joint project co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe. It is organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe for 25 years, in partnership with a number of youth-led and youth-oriented organisations who have the possibility to run their own activities (trainings, seminars, board meetings, etc.) within a dynamic and participatory context which encourages networking, cooperation and peer-to-peer education. 

It is the most long-standing Summer University. It represents an international hub for meetings, youth advocacy and exchange of good practices. The event gathers, for one week, hundreds of young people, youth workers, decision makers, experts from the field and institutional representatives, providing them all with a space to meet, debate, build their capacities and cooperate on youth policy issues. Each University is organised around a cross-cutting theme that represents the common thread linking all the activities. The 2026 North-South Centre Youth Universities focuses on "AI, Youth, and Peace: Preventing Cybercrime and Digital Harm through Responsible AI Governance." Building on the 2025 edition, the programme explores both the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, with particular attention to cybercrime, disinformation, online manipulation, and their impact on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. 

Through the lens of the Council of Europe's legal standards and complementary regional frameworks, participants will strengthen their critical AI literacy, digital safety skills, and understanding of responsible AI governance. The Youth Universities will empower young people to become informed digital citizens, contribute to policy discussions, and develop youth-led solutions that promote ethical AI, peaceful digital environments, and more inclusive and democratic societies through interregional dialogue and co-operation.