The Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS Agenda), consisting of UN Security Council Resolution 2250, adopted in 2015, and two follow-up resolutions, is the first policy paper to recognize the positive potential of young people and their agency for peace. One of its four pillars is youth participation. The UN Security Council “[u]rges Member States to consider ways to increase inclusive youth representation in decision-making at all levels in local, national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflict”1. Thus, the responsibility for the implementation of youth participation lies foremost with the UN member states.
To implement the YPS Agenda, states can draft, adopt and implement so-called National Action Plans (NAPs) or roadmaps. However, so far only four states have adopted a NAP to implement the YPS Agenda (Finland, DRC, Philippines, Nigeria),2 showing the lack of commitment. In comparison, 108 states have adopted at least one NAP to implement the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.3 While working with youth occasionally and recognizing the importance of the YPS Agenda, Switzerland is also one of the states that has not taken coordinated action to implement it and meaningfully involve youth in its domestic or foreign policy.
Thus, one might ask how the idea of meaningful participation codified by the YPS Agenda can become a local reality instead of remaining a unicorn of the international policy level. Particularly the lack of interest and effort by states and donors make this a challenging task.4 Nevertheless, more and more local (youth) groups and organizations as well as international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) have begun to actively include youth in their peacebuilding programs and projects and to promote meaningful youth participation despite these challenges.5
Acknowledging the lack of implementation by nation-states, the swisspeace Essential “From Policy to Practice – Meaningful Youth Participation in Peacebuilding” assesses the question of how international NGOs can contribute to implementing the participation pillar of the YPS Agenda through their peacebuilding activities. It is a practical guide to inspire and guide others interested in developing youth participation approaches in their peacebuilding work based on a series of interviews with 12 different INGOs and their partner organizations. It summarizes the key findings of these consultations including the organization’s different approaches ranging from formal to informal participation, capacity-building programs to youth-led peacebuilding activities. Further, it highlights concrete project examples, illustrates possible avenues between policy and practice and depicts encountered challenges.
The Essential is accompanied by the Resource Mapping “Meaningful Youth Participation in Peacebuilding” with useful tools, articles, policy papers and more to support INGOs further in the implementation of the YPS Agenda and meaningful youth participation in particular.
While INGOs and local partners can work effectively towards implementing the YPS participation pillar, for meaningful youth participation to become more than a unicorn, all actors – particularly governments and donors – must increase their efforts.
[1] UNSC. (2015). Resolution 2250. S/Res/2250.
[2] see Upadhyay, M. (2020) YPS Monitor: Content Analysis and Data Visualisation. Available at https://www.ypsmonitor.com/ Home – YPS Monitor [last accessed June 13, 2024].
[3] WILPF. (n.d.). 1325 National Action Plans (NAPs). WILPF. Available at https://1325naps.peacewomen.org/ [last accessed 16 June 2024].
[4] Mahanta, R. (2022). Political Participation is Key. How to strengthen youth as peace actors. Bonn: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. [1] also Tanghoj, E. & Scarpelini J.F. (2020). Youth, Peace and Security – Adviser’s Handbook. Folke Bernadotte Academy – Swedish agency for peace, security and development.
[5] also Tanghoj, E. & Scarpelini J.F. (2020). Youth, Peace and Security – Adviser’s Handbook. Folke Bernadotte Academy – Swedish agency for peace, security and development.