Youth, peace and security

Around the world many young people are victims of cultural, direct, and structural violence and have themselves become carriers of that same violence, which often compels victims to repeat such trauma on others. There is a strong tendency among politicians and researchers to see youth as a problem that is yet to be solved. However, many youth are peaceful and peace-builders. Youth are underestimated as positive agents of change and key actors in peace-building, both by policy-makers and academics. However, despite being equally affected by various forms of violence, many are stepping forward to act constructively towards building a culture of peace. 

The United Nations Security Council adopted unanimously, on 9 December 2015, a ground-breaking resolution on Youth, Peace and Security which recognises; ‘young people who play an important and positive role in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security’.

As part of a series of national consultations, The International Youth Alliance for Peace organised a consultation on Youth, Peace and Security in Batticaloa , Sri Lanka on 27 and 28 May in partnership with World Vision Lanka and the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) network, supported by British Council Sri Lanka Active Citizens Program, which is part of the global effort to bolster action on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 that calls for a greater role for young people in strengthening peace and security to help reshape the role of youth in peace building in communities, countries, across the regions and worldwide for safer tomorrow. 

The consultations will feed into a global progress study on the positive contribution of young people in peace building. This will be presented to the UN Secretary General and the Member States of the United Nations at the end of 2017. Youth selected from 18-29 years from various organisations were invited to attend the two days consultations. These consultations comprised of peer to peer discussions and experience sharing and many more.

International Youth Alliance for Peace is a youth-led organisation that was founded to bring together a network of youth to work together towards Sustainable Social Development.

We at IYAP hope to inspire youth-led social movements in the peace building arena under the banner of Resolution 2250. “We need to do more to raise the voices and shine the spotlights on young people who are really advocating in this space.” – Thirukumar Premakumar – President – IYAP.

IYAP along with its partners and district committees organises such initiatives in other districts as well. If you want to join them email: [email protected] or follow them on www.facebook.com/IYAP.org or call them on 0775446737 (Saranya) for more details.