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PLRT Activity Report
The Peace Lab for Religious Leaders and Thinkers (PLRT) is a youth empowerment programme led by the Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) in partnership with the Malaysian Youth Diplomacy (MyDiplomacy) and the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM). PLRT was aimed at addressing the growing yet not unique issues of hate, intolerance and radicalisation both online and offline within Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and religious society. These challenges pose serious threats to social cohesion and peace, particularly among youth who are often exploited by extremist movements. Through content creation, PLRT empowers young leaders to produce positive messages that promote peace and tolerance and provide counter narrative to dangerous ideologies using current digital and creative approaches.
Peace Lab for Youth (PLY) and PLRT adopted the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In the landmark resolutions 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020), UNSC recognised the pivotal role of youth as agents of peace and security.
PLRT built on the success of PLY in 2021 involving 30 youth participants from across Malaysia and 20 participating organisations from various public, private and civil society sectors who contributed to its success. By the end of PLY, participants produced 19 counter-narrative projects promoting religious freedom and tolerance in Malaysia.
PLRT was an advanced version of PLY. PLRT offered a more in-depth exploration of religious freedom, tolerance, and radicalisation in Malaysia and a more robust use of digital tools for content creation. The selection process for PLRT was also rigorous, focusing on candidates with a proven record of advocacy, leadership, and motivation to drive positive change. This approach ensures participants could engage fully in the workshops and apply their learning
long after completing the programme.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Malaysia supported both PLY and PLRT, reflecting the Dutch Government’s commitment to fostering peace initiatives in countries such as Malaysia. This type of support is vital in bolstering the capacity of civil societies like INITIATE.MY to work alongside local governments and communities effectively.