Accept International

Since its establishment in 2011, Accept International has been dedicated to breaking the chain of violence through accepting and empowering youth associated with non-state armed groups, including those labeled as terrorist organizations. We facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, recognizing them as pivotal peace agents. Our operations span conflict zones in Somalia, Yemen, Palestine, and areas affected by conflict in Kenya, Indonesia, and Colombia.

Accept International learned something while talking to so-called terrorists and the gangsters — most of them are young people just like us. And many of them are not originally people with radical ideas. They were just in circumstances that forced them to join armed groups, such as being brainwashed after being kidnapped, acting on hatred for friends being murdered, economic hardships, and anger at the government and the international community.

Young people are the cornerstone of creating the future. If so, they are young people who are ultimately left behind from everything, unable to return to society. If young people in terrorist organizations and armed organizations can get back on their feet to be part of society and create the future, what kind of world will it be?

On the basis of this, in September 2021, Accept International announced the “Declaration on the Rights of Youth Involved in Terrorism and Armed Conflicts.” In September 2024, the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants (GTY) launched to advocate globally for the rights and empowerment of youth involved in terrorism or armed conflict. This newly formed taskforce aims to shed light on these overlooked youth, working to break the cycle of hatred worldwide and striving towards sustainable peace. The ultimate goal of GTY is to establish international norms that ensure the rights, protection, and empowerment of Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups and help them become peace agents.

Accept International has been able to win prestigious awards including:

• King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the SDGs: Peace Award Winner
• Selected for the first time from Japan as one of the innovative solution to solve the global issues at the Peace Forum 2020
• FESCO 55th Social Contribution Awards