
The ‘Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda’ is the term used to describe the international policy agenda around youth participation in peace and security issues. This agenda is greatly inspired by the Women, Peace and Security movement, and pushes for greater participation of young people in different stages of interventions, including in decision- and policy-making, programming, fund allocation, and monitoring and evaluation.
The YPS community is composed of a diverse group of individuals, organizations and stakeholders, both youth and non-youth. This includes young peacebuilders and activists working individually, in youth-led peace organizations, non-youth organizations, and informal groups and movements, among others. It also includes UN agencies working for and with youth, national and local governments, intergovernmental bodies, donors, law enforcement agencies, religious actors, and the private sector.
The United Nations Security Council adopted unanimously, on 9 December 2015, a ground-breaking resolution on Youth, Peace and Security which recognizes that “young people play an important and positive role in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security”.
UNSCR 2250 (2015) identifies five key pillars for action: participation, protection, prevention, partnerships and disengagement and reintegration. This landmark resolution urges Member States to give youth a greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels and to consider setting up mechanisms that would enable young people to participate meaningfully in peace processes.
The Security Council also requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to carry out a study on young people’s positive contribution to peace processes and conflict resolution, and urges Member States to “increase, as appropriate, their political, financial, technical and logistical support, that take account of the needs and participation of youth in peace efforts, in conflict and post-conflict situations, including those undertaken by relevant entities, funds and programmes, and other relevant bodies and actors at regional and international levels”.
Prior to its adoption, Jordan’s permanent representative, said the resolution — considered the first of its kind on youth, peace and security — followed efforts by the Crown Prince of Jordan, a high-level thematic debate at the Security Council, and the Global Forum on Youth Peace and Security co-organized by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, UN and civil society partners, in Amman, in August 2015.
For more on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda please visit https://www.youth4peace.info/
What we are doing on Youth, Peace and Security in Ghana
After an online consultation with different stakeholders and young people from different parts of Ghana, we are coordinating the formation of Network for 2250 in Ghana which will bring together civil society and youth organizations to advance and advocate for the meaningful participation of youth in decision making and peacebuilding processes at all levels. The Network also provides a platform for collaborations for peace.
Interested organizations can submit an application to join the Network today. Learn more.
What is new?
Applications to the 2nd cohort of ASFIT Young Peacebuilders Fellowship Programme are now opened. Click here to learn more and apply today.