Role of Youth in Decision-making, Plans to End Violent Extremism Essential for International Peace, Deputy Secretary-General Tells New York Event

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the high-level event entitled “global efforts in integrating a youth dimension in preventing and countering violent extremism”, in New York today:

I thank the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Nasser Judeh; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Didier Reynders; and the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, for convening today’s high-level event.

This is an opportunity to continue the discussion started during the Jordanian presidency of the Security Council in April 2015 on the role of youth in countering violent extremism and promoting peace.  The subsequent adoption of resolution 2250 (2015) in December was a landmark — the first to recognize the important and positive role young women and men can play in maintaining and promoting international peace and security.

Further to that resolution, the Secretary-General recently established an Advisory Group of Experts to study the matter.

This is a demonstration of the United Nations commitment to work hand in hand with youth and with civil society, focusing on prevention rather than belated interventions.  I invite the Governments, foundation and private sector representatives present in this event to support the United Nations in the development of this study.

Young people have been significantly affected by violent extremism in recent years. In some cases, their search for meaning and a path in life has been manipulated to entice them into extremism and violence.  Young people have also been deliberately targeted by violent extremists for exercising their human rights.

I understand the worry that young people may be vulnerable to the lure of a salary, sense of belonging and a promise of glory.  But, the vast majority of young people aspire to build a better future for themselves and their societies, and can see the appeals of extremists for the empty illusions and blatant lies they are.  So, let us remember:  young people represent promise and potential, not peril or problems.

The need to empower youth figures prominently in the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.  The General Assembly’s review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy encourages States to include young people in decision-making processes and consider practical ways to involve them in Prevent Violent Extremism efforts.

The Secretary-General’s Youth Envoy, Ahmad Alhendawi, and his Special Envoy on Youth Employment, Werner Faymann, are also working to tap the potential of youth for peace, justice, development and mutual respect.

Young people are already at the forefront of efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism.  At the Leaders’ Summit on Countering Violent Extremism and ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and Levant/Da’esh], held on the margins of last year’s General Assembly’s high-level debate, young leaders from across the world prepared and presented a Youth Action Agenda to Prevent Violent Extremism and Promote Peace.  They also contributed to last year’s Amman Youth Declaration on Youth, Peace and Security.

There are countless youth groups that want to promote peace and fight prejudices and injustice.  We must support them in achieving their dreams.

But, preventing violent extremism will not be possible only through traditional institutional arrangements or education.  We need to integrate young women and men into decision-making at the local and national levels.  We must foster trust between decision makers and young people.  We should work not only for young people, but also with them.

Political leaders also have a duty to set an example by upholding the universal values of equality and mutual respect.  Those who prey on fear, promote discrimination and seek to divide people and nations, are themselves poisoning our politics, endangering our hopes of building peaceful, inclusive societies.

In its consensus resolution on the Prevent Violent Extremism Plan of Action, the United Nations General Assembly invited Member States, regional and subregional organizations to consider developing national and regional Prevent Violent Extremism plans of action.  The Secretary-General is mobilizing the United Nations to support Member States to prepare such plans.  Youth can and must play a central role in this work and pursuit.

Let us draw on the idealism, energy and innovative power of youth.  Let us invest in all efforts to reject the message of division, hate and fear.  Let us inspire our youth by offering them the hope and opportunity they deserve.