The YPS Agenda
Recognising Youth As Partners
In Peace And Security
The Origin
What Is The YPS Agenda?
The Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Agenda is a global framework that recognises the crucial role young people play in promoting and maintaining peace and security. It emerged as a response to the distinct challenges faced by youth in conflict-affected areas, and aims to empower young people as key contributors to peacebuilding and conflict resolution rather than bystanders to it.
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, adopted in 2015, was the landmark development that formally acknowledged the importance of youth in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security — the first resolution of its kind.
The Four Pillars
Components Of The Agenda
Four pillars anchor the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda — each one shaping how youth are engaged in the maintenance of peace and security.
- Participation — Encouraging the active involvement of young people in decision-making processes related to peace and security at local, national, and international levels.
- Protection — Recognising and addressing the specific vulnerabilities and risks faced by youth in conflict situations, including violence, recruitment into armed groups, and displacement.
- Prevention — Emphasising the role of youth in preventing conflict and promoting sustainable peace through initiatives such as education, employment opportunities, and community engagement.
- Partnership — Fostering collaboration between governments, civil society, and young people to develop and implement policies that support the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda.
Why It Matters
The Significance Of The Agenda
Harness The Potential Of Youth
Acknowledges and leverages the unique perspectives, energy, and creativity young people bring to peacebuilding efforts.
Address Root Causes Of Conflict
By actively involving youth in prevention and resolution strategies, the agenda tackles socio-economic inequality, political instability, and discrimination at their source.
Build Sustainable Peace
Sustainable peace requires the active participation and commitment of every segment of society — youth included, not added on afterward.
Promote Social Inclusion
Counteracts the marginalisation of young people by promoting their inclusion in decision-making and ensuring their voices are heard in matters that affect their communities.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Agenda?
The YPS is a framework established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 in 2015, recognizing the role of young people in promoting and maintaining peace and security worldwide.
Why is the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda important?
The YPSA acknowledges the unique perspectives, contributions, and needs of young people in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding efforts, ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
What are the key pillars of the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda?
The YPSA is built upon four pillars: participation, protection, prevention, and partnership. These pillars emphasize the importance of involving youth in peacebuilding initiatives, safeguarding their rights in conflict situations, addressing root causes of violence, and fostering collaboration between governments, civil society, and young people.
How does the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda promote youth participation?
The YPSA encourages the inclusion of youth in peacebuilding activities at all levels, from local communities to international forums, empowering them to contribute their ideas, skills, and energy to conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts.
What are examples of youth-led peace initiatives supported by the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda?
Examples include youth-led mediation and dialogue initiatives, peace education programs, youth advocacy campaigns for peace and human rights, and projects promoting social cohesion and reconciliation in conflict-affected communities.
How does the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda address the protection of young people in conflict zones?
The YPSA emphasizes the need to protect young people from recruitment by armed groups, sexual and gender-based violence, displacement, and other forms of harm during armed conflicts. It calls for measures to ensure their safety, well-being, and access to essential services.
How does the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda contribute to conflict prevention?
By recognizing the agency and resilience of young people, the YPSA supports initiatives that address the root causes of conflict, including inequality, discrimination, exclusion, and lack of opportunities, thereby preventing violence and instability.
What role do young women play in the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda?
The YPSA recognizes the specific challenges faced by young women in conflict-affected settings and underscores the importance of their meaningful participation in peacebuilding efforts, as well as addressing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality and women’s rights.
How can governments and other stakeholders support the implementation of the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda?
Governments, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders can support the YPSA by investing in youth empowerment programs, creating platforms for youth participation in decision-making, mainstreaming youth perspectives into peacebuilding policies and programs, and providing resources and capacity-building support to youth-led organizations and initiatives.
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