More than 120 young peacebuilders, partners, EU institutions and Member States meet in Brussels next week to mark ten years of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda. The second EU YPS Conference and YPS Week will reflect on progress and shape future collective action.
From 10–14 November, Brussels will play host to the Second EU Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Conference and surrounding YPS week, marking ten years since the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.
EU institutions, Member States and more than 120 young peacebuilders and partners will meet to co-shape future action on Youth, Peace and Security. As a member of the EU YPS Coalition, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation is a co-organiser, reflecting its strategic commitment to youth in peacemaking.
“Youth are powerful agents of positive change,” says Mimi Massala, Project Manager in CMI’s Youth in Peacemaking team. “Generation after generation, they have been at the centre of peacemaking and movements for social progress, and the YPS agenda acknowledges both the disproportionate impact of conflict on young people and their vital role in resolving it.”
Young peacebuilders and policymakers reflect on achievements and challenges
The Conference and YPS week will assess progress and persistent challenges a decade on from Resolution 2250, with participants co-developing a “joint declaration” to capture shared priorities and proposals for collective action.
“The YPS agenda acknowledges both the disproportionate impact of conflict on young people and their vital role in resolving it.”
The programme explores the legacy of UNSCR 2250: what has been learned, what is working, and how the agenda can evolve in a changing world. Key themes include National Action Plans; regional needs and opportunities; and intersections with other international agendas such as EU accession, Women, Peace & Security, climate and new technologies.
Grayden Prince, Project Officer in CMI’s Youth in Peacemaking team says this is an opportunity for a diverse cohort of young people to learn, exchange ideas, and build strong partnerships and networks. “I’m eager to reflect on where we are as a community after 10 years of YPS, as well as what’s needed to progress in the future,” he explains.
In framing the event, the EU’s External Action Service notes that over 400 million young people live in conflict zones, with more than 500,000 involved in fighting. It describes this year’s events as a “response to this global crisis” and part of growing recognition of the YPS agenda.
CMI leads sessions on foresight and digital innovation
As an organising partner, CMI will run two sessions at the event. The first session, using foresight methodology, prepares participants for the Conference and the joint declaration process. Rooted in data and research, foresight methodology supports peace practitioners by helping them identify the interplay of past and present in shaping potential futures.
“Over 400 million young people live in conflict zones, with more than 500,000 involved in fighting.”
The second session explores how new technologies, including AI, can enhance youth participation in peace and security. Drawing on the experiences of young peacebuilders and experts from conflict-affected contexts, it will critically examine how digital tools can help and hinder youth agency in conflict prevention and resolution.
Youth recognised as key actors in shaping peace and security
CMI’s role in the EU Conference and YPS week is a demonstration of its ‘youth in peacemaking’ commitment. At the core of the approach is recognising youth as politically relevant actors who have the capacity to create systemic change.
The work builds on the legacy of CMI’s founder, Nobel Peace Laureate President Martti Ahtisaari who viewed youth as key partners in shaping the future. CMI has worked with youth in regions such as the Lake Chad Basin, South Sudan, and the South Caucasus and contributes to global YPS policy discussions.
“The participation of young people is not only a right but an asset that can improve the relevance and impact of peace efforts,” says Mimi Massala. “It is time they are recognised as essential partners in preventing and resolving conflict.”
“Despite the growing momentum of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, a gap remains between policy commitments and young people’s lived experiences.”
Since 9 December 2015, when the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2250, the EU and its Member States have increasingly responded to the promise and political imperative of the YPS agenda. Finland, in 2021, became the first country to adopt a National Action Plan on YPS and elements of the agenda have been integrated into other national and EU policies, including the EU’s Youth Action Plan in external action (2022).
Despite the growing momentum of the global policy agenda on Youth, Peace and Security – underpinned by UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419 and 2535 – a gap remains between policy commitments and young people’s lived experiences, say CMI experts.
Those resolutions recognised the need to give young people a greater voice in decision-making, but more must be done and CMI will continue to strengthen its commitment to youth agency in dialogue and mediation.
As CMI’s Grayden Prince says: this anniversary year is about reflecting on how far the YPS agenda has come but also important is driving implementation forward. “The joint declaration that will emerge from this event is important both for young people and for the institutions whose decisions and policies impact the lives and well-being of youth every day.”
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