With Rising Conflicts Worldwide, Human Rights Rollbacks, Women, Youth Must Have Greater Participation in Peacebuilding Efforts, Speakers Tell Security Council
From Gaza and Ukraine to Sudan and Afghanistan, women, youth and children are bearing the brunt of conflicts, war and an ever-increasing global rollback of human rights, the Security Council heard today, as speakers outlined best practices to improve the participation of women and young people in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, informed the 15-nation organ that more than half of the recorded incidents of political violence against women occur in conflict-affected countries. With many regions ignoring or reversing commitments to gender equality, she cited the Secretary-General’s call in “A New Agenda for Peace” to address structural inequalities and dismantle patriarchal power structures. “Ultimately, it comes down to a simple vision — of overcoming obstacles that deny the full contribution of women,” she said.
The death of 49 female human rights defenders over the past year, noted Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), is a painful reminder of the realities of war for women and girls. In particular, “women and girls are bearing the brunt of [the war in Gaza],” she stated, drawing attention to the killing of women and children yesterday in Rafah. Noting that in Gaza, girls and boys have been out of school since 7 October 2023, 19 million children in Sudan have not been in classrooms, and 1.1 million girls are without schooling since the 2021 ban in Afghanistan, she asserted: “There is no second chance at childhood.”
Amid rising conflicts worldwide, one out of every four young people live in conflict-affected countries, reported Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. “From Gaza and Ukraine to Sudan, the death toll since 2022 has reached its highest level in 28 years,” he noted. Yet, young people are continuing to create their own movements, demonstrating their growing agency and leadership worldwide. “They are rekindling hope in Syria, mobilizing for peace in Sudan and supporting community engagement in refugee camps in Chad,” he said. However, despite advancements in institutionalizing young people’s meaningful engagement within the United Nations system — such as the establishment of the UN Youth Office — he emphasized that “more needs to be done to translate policies into tangible action”.
Simone Mbode Diouf, African Youth Ambassador for Peace for the West Africa Region, spotlighted the work of young African women peacebuilders, detailing the efforts of these activists who are addressing challenges across Africa, including climate change, resurgence of conflict, sexual violence and lack of economic opportunity. Nonetheless, while “the commitment of young women across the African continent is undeniable, political leaders must play their part,” she pointed out. Women must be economically and socially empowered to have the resources, capabilities, and confidence to be agents of change, as well. “When you invest in young women, they give back to the community, starting a virtuous — rather than vicious — circle,” she stated.
In the ensuing discussion, numerous speakers identified synergies between the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas, noting that neither operates in a vacuum but in fact are complementary.
Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique and Council President for May, spoke in her national capacity to highlight young people’s leading role in the fight against terrorism, extremism and other forms of violence. She also detailed her country’s efforts in implementing its National Plan on Women, Peace and Security through the training of over 700 Government and civil society employees in assisting victims of gender-based violence and 3,000 police and armed forces members in gender equality.
The representative of Brazil, speaking for the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, underscored that women’s efforts to overcome violence must be leveraged for long-term peace. However, he emphasized that young men’s inclusion is also crucial to stopping the reproduction of patriarchal power structures that hinder gender equality.
His counterpart from Malta also stressed that a gender perspective on youth, peace and security will prevent a new generation from reproducing patriarchal power structures and called for engagement with young men and boys whose identities are informed by gender norms. She further cautioned that adolescent girls become more susceptible to early and forced marriage and pregnancy during- and post-conflict, while minorities within this group — young lesbian, bisexual and transgender women — are at heightened risk.
Noting that the lack of access to education and employment is one of the primary reasons some young people and women are lured into joining armed groups and terrorist organizations, China’s representative urged the international community to increase their access to schools and jobs so that youth and women can become “the masters of their own destiny” and a major force for social stability and development. “This is the most effective means of conflict prevention and the peace project with the highest returns,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Russian Federation’s delegate questioned the effectiveness of developing strategies and institutions for women and youth in conflict resolution — particularly in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. By doing so, the UN is “multiplying bureaucratic structures” that neither prevent nor resolve conflicts, she asserted. Further, donor countries should refrain from making the participation of women and youth a strict condition for assisting poor countries, she observed, citing “such new colonial practices” as “unacceptable”.
Still, the representative of the United Kingdom, noting that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation — as leaders, negotiators and peacebuilders — dramatically enhances the chances of long-lasting peace, stated: “By amplifying the voices of those most affected by conflict, we can better address and mitigate its impacts.”
In that vein, Finland’s delegate, also speaking for Jordan and the Group of Champions of Youth, Peace and Security, declared: “The role of decision-makers is to work not only for the youth, but also with them. They do not need our voices to speak on their behalf. They need to get on the stage to speak for themselves.”
MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: THE ROLE OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Briefings
ROSEMARY DICARLO, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, noting that women bear the brunt of the global rollback of human rights, cited Afghanistan as a “crying example” where women and girls are systematically denied rights and dignity, particularly in education. Women in Kabul aspire to the same opportunities as men and seek international support to realize their rights and contribute to their country’s future. With many regions ignoring or reversing commitments to gender equality, she cited the Secretary-General’s call in “A New Agenda for Peace” to address structural inequalities and dismantle patriarchal power structures. “Ultimately, it comes down to a simple vision — of overcoming obstacles that deny the full contribution of women,” she said.
Pointing out that armed conflicts exacerbate structural obstacles to women’s equality, with institutional failures and impunity exposing women to aggravated risks, she noted that more than half of the recorded incidents of political violence against women occurs in conflict-affected countries. For this reason, addressing structural gender inequalities is crucial for equity and improving the success of peace and political processes. She went on to highlight the efforts of special political missions to promote women’s rights and meaningful participation in peace processes, citing Yemen as an example where women’s mediation efforts have supported UN-led negotiations.
Turning to the women, peace and security agenda, she stressed the importance of national action. With over 100 countries having developed national plans to implement Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), she called for more countries to commit to specific measures to advance women’s leadership, including as mediators. On the role of young people, she stressed that young people deserve the opportunity to shape their future. “They are not ‘adults in the making’,” she said, emphasizing their hopes, aspirations and energy. Spotlighting young people’s growing mistrust in governance institutions and electoral processes, she underscored that national action plans for youth, peace and security are essential for meaningful youth participation and require dedicated resources and capacities. Therefore, the United Nations has supported relevant regional efforts, like those of the African Union and the League of Arab States.
Environmental peacebuilding is another area in which young people are demanding a role, she continued, urging the international community to recognize and advance the role of young women and men as environmental defenders, community leaders, mobilizers and peacebuilders. Noting that there are “no quick fixes to entrenched power politics, patriarchal attitudes, or unequal social structures,” she emphasized that transformative changes rely on national action, involving all segments of society. “Through its meetings and decisions, the Council can reinforce that women, along with men, are responsible for building peace and prosperity in their societies,” she underscored. Likewise, the Council can promote recognition of young people as important agents of change.
SIMA SAMI BAHOUS, Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), recalled a story published by UN-Women in 2023 on Amani, a psychotherapist in Rafah specializing treating patients traumatized by living in conflict. She, along with her four children were killed on 7 May, just one of more than 10,000 women killed in the past seven months. Detailing the killing of women and children yesterday in Rafah, she reiterated the importance of demanding a permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, the release of all hostages and the determined pursuit of a two-State solution. “This war must stop because women and girls are bearing the brunt of it,” she stressed.
Sounding the alarm over 300 human rights defenders who were killed over the past year, 49 of whom were women, she also detailed several specific cases — including Mursal, a former member of Parliament in Afghanistan shot and killed in her home, and Halima, a journalist killed while covering the war in her native Sudan — adding that such deaths are a painful reminder of the realities of war for women and girls where disproportionate harm is inflicted on women during conflicts not of their making. Further, resolution 1325 (2000) as a global norm remains a distant reality, she said, urging the Council to continue listening to and augmenting women’s voices. Noting the Secretary-General’s report on youth, peace and security, she shared examples of good practices such as capacity-building initiatives for youth participation in peace processes in Georgia and transitional justice initiatives in Lebanon, as well as UN-Women’s interagency collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support 79 women and youth-inclusive peacebuilding processes across 17 countries.
UN-Women will continue to break down barriers to inclusion by encouraging the creation of spaces for inter-generational dialogue in conflict-affected countries and for equal representation of women and young women across decision-making bodies, she continued. Scalable solutions exist to achieve those goals but the international community is not implementing them. It is crucial that women and girls’ education, their autonomy and their freedom to decide on all their choices in life must be protected. Meanwhile, 1.1 million girls are without schooling since the 2021 ban in Afghanistan; in Gaza, girls and boys have been out of school since 7 October 2023, and 19 million children have not been in classrooms in Sudan; and around 40 per cent of children in Ukraine do not have continual access to education, to name a few. “There is no second chance at childhood,” she warned.
Highlighting priority areas that require the international community’s attention, she emphasized that lip service to women’s meaningful participation should be condemned; commitments to quotas, temporary special measures or other concrete measures must be implemented; and the international community must combat hate and disinformation, most notably online. Further, as less than 1 per cent of parliamentarians globally are young women, they must enjoy better representation. This year’s opportunities must be seized upon to place young women at the core of gender-equality action, she said, citing the Summit of the Future, the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and the twenty-fifth anniversary for resolution 1325 (2000). “Young women are the leaders of tomorrow and the change-makers of today… they have a right to a world free from violence and fear, a world where their dreams can flourish, where they can ascend to their full potential. And protecting and promoting their rights is our duty,” she declared.
FELIPE PAULLIER, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, presenting the Secretary-General's third report on youth, peace and security, reported that the world is witnessing the greatest number of conflicts since the Second World War, affecting young people worldwide. “From Gaza and Ukraine to Sudan, the death toll since 2022 has reached its highest level in 28 years,” he stated, adding that one out of every four young people globally live in conflict-affected countries. Concurrently, youth distrust of institutions is deteriorating, which, in turn, exacerbates inequalities and instability. Recalling his recent visits to countries such as Benin, Ethiopia and the Philippines, he said that the message from young people is loud and clear: the multilateral system must intensify efforts and put in place concrete mechanisms to involve them meaningfully in policy-making and decision-making spaces.
He underlined that young people are calling and mobilizing for peace as they continue to create their own movements, demonstrating their growing agency and leadership across the globe. “They are rekindling hope in Syria, mobilizing for peace in Sudan and supporting community engagement in refugee camps in Chad,” he said. However, despite growing political momentum for the youth, peace, and security agenda, this commitment has not resulted in greater investment to sustain youth-led peacebuilding and meaningful youth participation. Additional resources and age-disaggregated data are essential to fully support their engagement in decision-making processes. Spotlighting advancements in institutionalizing young people’s meaningful engagement within the United Nations system — such as the establishment of the United Nations Youth Office — he underscored that “more needs to be done to translate policies into tangible action”.
Among the many challenges facing young people, digital threats are on the rise, he cautioned, noting that they have increased the spread of hate speech, misinformation and sexual harassment. Young women and girls — especially those with disabilities and from marginalized communities — are at a heightened risk of violence. To address these protection concerns, UN Peacekeeping Operations have focused on establishing Community Alert Networks with youth leaders in countries such as the Central African Republic, thus enhancing early warning capacities and community-based protection mechanisms.
Nevertheless, the momentum on the Council's youth, peace and security agenda slowed in 2022 and 2023, he observed, noting the decrease in the references to young people in Council resolutions. “It is concerning to see a decline in the number of young people briefing both the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission between 2022 to 2023, compared to prior years,” he added. Outlining recommendations, he said that holding an annual Council open debate on youth, peace and security is crucial to ensure sustained engagement and momentum for the agenda. As well, it is pivotal to increase opportunities for young people to participate in Council deliberations and country visits. The Council must also continue strengthening concrete youth, peace and security elements as part of mandate renewals of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, he stressed.
SIMONE MBODE DIOUF, African Youth Ambassador for Peace for the West Africa Region, said that she is living proof that international and regional institutions can choose to trust the expertise of young women by putting them on the global stage. Spotlighting the work of young African women peacebuilders, she shared the story of four young Congolese women who led the National Technical Secretariat on their Government’s resolution that institutionalizes resolution 2250 (2015). Through these women’s endeavours, the Democratic Republic of Congo created its first national action plan on youth peace and security in 2022. Two of the women, coordinators of “Jeunes Femmes Leaders pour la Paix“, brought the Agenda, through data collection and drafting strategic documents, to their local communities despite a challenging security context marked by war.
Underlining that such examples are not isolated, she said that many young women across Africa are addressing challenges such as climate change, resurgence of conflict, sexual violence and lack of economic opportunity; they are key to maintaining peace in their countries. Hailing resolution 2535 (2020), she said that the resolution highlights the intersectional needs of different groups of young people while calling on Member States and other peace actors to promote the women and youth agendas. The African Union’s Continental Framework on Youth Peace and Security encouraged sensitivity to stereotypes through programmes including the Youth Ambassadors for Peace, the FemWise network, Youth Caucuses of African Women Leaders Networks and the Young Women’s Mentoring Initiative.
She also detailed other young women’s efforts that embody the intersection of the United Nations and the African Union’s agendas and their complementarity in the creation of inclusive security policies. Both frameworks recognize that conflict, war and violence impact youth and women differently and highlight that their crucial contributions to peace and humanitarian responses are overlooked, she noted, adding: “The commitment of young women across the African continent is undeniable, but political leaders must play their part.” Young women need to be economically and socially empowered to have the resources, capabilities, and confidence to be agents of change she stressed, pointing out that “when you invest in young women, they give back to the community, starting a virtuous, rather than vicious, circle.” It is important to see young women as political actors, she emphasized, citing Sibila Ouédraogo, the youngest candidate in Burkina Faso's recent legislative elections.
However, progress cannot be made without political will, which will be particularly important during the Summit of the Future, reporting that, in the latest version of the Summit’s Pact for the Future, all language related to the youth, peace and security and women, peace and security agendas has been removed. Urging for the reversal of this trend, she underscored that women peacebuilders must be protected. While some young women speak out despite threats, many are silenced through fear. Combatting hate speech and gender-based violence through technology is essential in creating safe civic space. She called on the Council to implement, fund and institutionalize the two agendas as requested by 400 young people in the Cotonou Youth Action Agenda, to highlight best practices and lessons learned from young women peacebuilders working for sustainable peace and to encourage collaboration and dialogue between young women and other stakeholders to bridge generational and gender gaps.
Statements
VERÓNICA NATANIEL MACAMO DLHOVO, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique and Council President for May, spoke in her national capacity, stressing that today’s meeting offered an important opportunity to identify best practices, gaps, challenges and the way forward to improve the participation of women and young people in conflict-prevention and peacebuilding. Recognizing that the effectiveness of peace and security policies hinges on understanding the experiences of violence, injustice, and exclusion faced by young people and women, Mozambique has placed them at the forefront of decision-making processes, she reported. This has been achieved by ensuring gender parity in the Government and by increasing the representation of women and young people in legislative and judicial bodies.
Detailing her country’s efforts implementing its National Plan on Women, Peace and Security, she highlighted the training of over 700 Government and civil society employees in assisting victims of gender-based violence and the training of 3,000 police and armed forces members in gender equality. Also pointing out young people’s leading role in the fight against terrorism, extremism and other forms of violence, she spotlighted her country’s “holistic approach”, which includes economic and social initiatives targeting young people and the establishment of the National Youth Council. Urging Member States “to raise awareness among their political leaders to prioritize the agenda on women and youth” in their different interventions, she underscored the importance of involving of civil society organizations and community media that encourages grass-roots level contributions in drafting and implementing national action plans on women and youth. She also called on Member States to prioritize resource allocation from national budgets and partners, applying a gender perspective in budgeting.
The representative of Guyana said that the women, peace and security and the youth, peace and security agendas cannot be addressed in silos. Their goals will not be achieved without capitalizing on their synergies. Though the adoption of resolution 2250 (2015) was an important step, the international community must ensure that no category of youth, notably women, is left out. Targeted action must ensure their participation in both civil society and Government. In addressing root causes of poverty, unemployment and internal displacement, the importance of quality education must be underscored. Moreover, attention must be paid to hate speech, misinformation, racism and unwanted sexual advances online affecting young people. Education in this regard on responsible online behaviour must implemented and perpetrators must be held accountable. The Council should continue strengthening the two agendas into mandate renewals of peacekeeping operations with adequate resourcing for the empowerment and participation of women and youth built into mandates with strong monitoring mechanisms to measure implementation and efficiency.
The representative of the Russian Federation, highlighting women’s integral role in conflict resolution, along with the innovative contributions of young people, spotlighted the vulnerability of women and youth as victims of conflict, particularly in Gaza. However, she questioned the effectiveness of developing strategies and institutions for women and youth in conflict resolution — particularly in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict — accusing the United Nations of “multiplying bureaucratic structures” and “formally preparing and updating plans of actions” that neither prevent nor resolve conflicts. Acknowledging the increasing participation of women and young people in peace processes, she warned that such involvement must be a natural part of societal evolution and a constant conscious choice rather than “a priority imposed from the outside”. She further criticized donor countries for making the participation of women and youth a strict condition for allocating assistance to poor countries, adding that “such new colonial practices are unacceptable”. She also voiced concerns about the participation of children in political activities given their physical and mental immaturity.
The representative of Switzerland, noting the progress made on both agendas, pointed out that gaps still remain. For women, the doors to peacebuilding are cracked open, but seem to be closing, and for young people, the situation is no better. While some initiatives have been implemented to remedy this in countries, including Colombia and Yemen, young people suffer violence disproportionately and are rarely involved in peace processes — often losing trust in public institutions. Offering networking as a possible solution, she hailed the FemWise-Africa network for its approach to mutual learning and knowledge transfer. Moreover, policymakers must use these networks to establish partnerships. Peacebuilding is too great a process to do without women and Member States must keep firm their promises made almost 25 years ago, she stressed, adding that Switzerland will continue to ensure that the voice of women and young people is heard in the Council.
The representative of the United States, observing that the youth, peace and security and women, peace and security agendas are mutually reinforcing, declared: “When we lift up young people, we lift up women; when we lift up women, we lift up young people; and when we lift up both, we empower entire communities”. However, young people and women are disproportionately impacted by conflict, she pointed out, stressing that violence disrupts their education and diminishes their job prospects, limiting their access to civic spaces. In this regard, she said that the children of Gaza are unable to pursue their education through no fault of their own. Likewise, girls in Afghanistan are denied access to education, restricted by the Taliban. “We have seen young people respond to these challenges and become the architects of their futures,” she noted, urging Member States to do everything in their power to uplift women and young people and promote their safety in physical and digital space. Sustainable peace and stability are only possible through inclusive decision-making processes, she added.
The representative of China, spotlighting the toll of the war in Gaza on women and children, urged the Council to promote a ceasefire. He further called on parties to the conflict “to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law to refrain from using women and youth as military targets”. The international community must fully leverage the advantages of quick thinking, understanding and tolerance of women and youth to encourage them to contribute their ideas to conflict prevention. Noting that lack of access to education and employment is one of the major reasons some young people and women are lured into joining armed groups and terrorist organizations, he called on the international community to increase their access to such opportunities so that youth and women can become “the masters of their own destiny” and a major force for social stability and development. “This is the most effective means of conflict prevention and the peace project with the highest returns,” he emphasized.
The representative of France underscored the importance of the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas working in tandem to prevent conflicts and to construct more inclusive and resilient societies. His country supports these goals through its feminist diplomacy and its concrete actions, such as training female officers on gender issues in peacekeeping operations. However, despite progress in the agendas, it is not enough. In this regard, he condemned all measures restricting civic space for women, such as in Afghanistan, calling on Member States to support the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommendations on women’s’ participation in decision-making processes. Condemning the disproportionate amounts of violence that women and girls face in situations of conflict, he said that France will support initiatives to include them in peace processes.
The representative of Japan emphasized that holistic approaches on conflict prevention involving women and youth lead to strengthened social resilience and national ownership of sustainable peace. Citing the Secretary-General’s report, he underscored the need to foster inclusive economic and employment opportunities as a key to youth empowerment in post-conflict settings. Integrating youth and women into security frameworks requires long-term national and international efforts, he noted, urging the international community to draw lessons from the women, peace and security agenda to support the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda. Further, the Council must continue to strengthen and mainstream youth, peace and security agenda elements in its resolutions, as well as incorporate youth perspectives into its meetings, including through the invitation of briefers.
The representative of Ecuador said that the Pact for the Future provides an opportunity to address the challenges facing young people, including access to new information, communication technologies and artificial intelligence. Women and young people tend to be the most exposed to these risk factors due to greater exposure to the dissemination of online hate messages and political violence. Further, the escalation of violence associated with conflict endangers the lives of young people, he said, noting that young women are disproportionately affected by forced displacement, sexual and gender-based violence and human trafficking. Against this backdrop, he underlined the importance of guaranteeing that the victims of these atrocities have full access to full and equitable participation in political processes and peacebuilding. It is also vital to strengthen the joint efforts among Member States, regional bodies and UN agencies to promote the participation of youth and women.
The representative of Malta said that to address young peoples’ underrepresentation in peace processes and their security in a context of shrinking civil space, the Council must first understand their lived experiences in conflict-affected countries. Data collection from peacekeeping missions should include age, sex and gender-responsible analysis and gender-responsive investments in youth-centred peacebuilding efforts must be expanded. This cannot be achieved without the engagement of young men and boys whose identities are informed by gender norms and power relations, she said, calling on the Council to create safe opportunities for youth to participate in meetings. Further, adolescent girls become more susceptible to early and forced marriage and pregnancy during- and post-conflict while minorities within this group such as young lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are at heightened risk. In that vein, Malta welcomes a gender perspective to youth peace and security that will prevent a new generation from preproducing patriarchal power structures that limit gender equality.
The representative of Algeria underlined the crucial role women and youth play in managing and resolving conflicts, despite facing significant challenges and transnational threats such as armed conflict, terrorism and trafficking. These challenges hinder their effective inclusion and obstruct peace, security and sustainable development. This complex dilemma cannot be tackled by Member States alone, he said, underscoring the importance of international partnerships and cooperation as well as financial and technical support. “Only sustainable development can engage youth in building their community and the economies of their countries,” he added, highlighting the importance of using the technological and digital skills of youth to enhance the synergy between the youth, peace and security and women, peace and security agendas. Turning to the war in Gaza, where women and youth “are being exterminated,” he emphasized that achieving peace is meaningless without the immediate cessation of all forms of killing, persecution, and marginalization, and without enabling Palestinian youth to enjoy their rights within an independent State.
The representative of the United Kingdom underlined that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation — as leaders, negotiators and peacebuilders — greatly enhances the chances of long-lasting peace. Reporting that his country recently launched a programme of over $900,000 that supports women peacebuilders, including those in South Sudan, he stated: “By amplifying the voices of those most affected by conflict, we can better address and mitigate its impacts.” He also highlighted the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, which prioritizes the voices of survivors and puts them at the heart of decision-making. For children who grow up in war, the impacts of conflict, including conflict-related sexual violence, extend into their youth and beyond. In this context, he pointed to his Government’s Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which is dedicated to addressing the urgent challenges faced by this vulnerable group.
The representative of Republic of Korea said that his country remains committed to implementing the two agendas. The role of women and young people must be central in peace processes. Further, young people and women must be economically empowered, he said, noting that all too often women and youth are driven into sexual exploitation or armed groups for lack of opportunity. This is a reminder that economic need becomes a bargaining chip for those affected conflicts. Empowering young women allows the international community to leverage their unique position to address generational efforts in peacebuilding while applying a gender lens in the youth peace and security agenda can help prevent new generations from replicating power structures. The Security Council should not only repeat moral imperatives, he emphasized. Rather it must fully embrace the mandate to make the voices of women and young people integral in the maintenance of peace and security.
The representative of Slovenia emphasized that conflicts had a lasting impact on the development and prospects of youth by depriving them of family ties and education and limiting their access to health care, gainful employment and social services. The experiences of youth in conflict are often influenced by their gender, she pointed out, calling for more active engagement of young women in conflict prevention and resolution, including by leveraging more access to funding. Therefore, such partnerships with international and regional financial institutions, as well as inclusion in conflict resolution, should be strengthened. In addition, young people in conflict-affected areas, especially young women at high risk of sexual violence, need a survivor-centred response. Noting that conflict often deprives entire generations of access to education, she stressed the importance of prioritizing educational and vocational opportunities with a gender perspective, “as these enable young people to rebuild their lives and reclaim their roles in post-conflict societies”.
The representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, underscored that none of the objectives of women, peace, and security agenda could be realized without women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation. It is encouraging that political commitment to the youth, peace and security agenda has grown over the past two years, she said, noting the need to “sustain this momentum through concrete actions”. The bloc is at the forefront through its Youth Action Plan, which contributes to the implementation of resolution 2250 (2015) by promoting youth leadership and participation, including in conflict situations worldwide. She also said that youth engagement must be integrated more systematically into the UN system, adding that establishing the UN Youth Office was an essential step in this regard.
An intersectional lens on peace and security is crucial, she continued, stressing that while the youth, peace and security and women, peace and security agendas are pivotal in their own right, “neither operates in a vacuum”. Young women must be at the table of discussions, as their experiences and vision bring unique perspectives on conflict prevention, post-conflict reconstruction, the promotion of gender equality and the building of more inclusive and resilient societies. Also, youth participation in decision-making should never become a mere box-ticking exercise. In the context of the increasing number of conflicts worldwide and a shrinking civic space for young persons both offline and online, she emphasized that it is critical to protect the achievements made so far.
The representative of Brazil, speaking for the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, said that while women and girls are disproportionately affected by sexual violence in armed conflict, they are also deeply committed to peacebuilding, including as community leaders, mediators, security officials, members of parliament or the judiciary. Women’s efforts to overcome violence must be leveraged for long-term peace. In that vein, the Group has prioritized the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda within the framework of their Action Plan for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. Similarly, the Group has chosen “Youth and Sustainability” as its theme for the current presidency (2023-2025).
Young men’s inclusion is also crucial to stop reproducing patriarchal power structures that hinder gender equality and prevent young people from becoming instruments in the hands of leaders who choose violence over the democratic and peaceful treatment of disputes and problems, he pointed out. Prepared to work with all relevant partners including the Peacebuilding Commission, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries reaffirms its unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and equality, he said, adding: “Together, let us endeavour to build a safer, more peaceful world for both present and future generations.”
The representative of Denmark, also speaking for Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, noted that while young people, including young women, play a vital role in addressing challenges and fostering peace in their communities, they are also disproportionately affected by violent conflict. “Inclusivity is key to sustaining peace,” he stressed, calling for ensuring the “full, effective, meaningful and safe” participation of youth in their diversity at all levels of decision-making and peacebuilding processes. He further warned against treating women and youth as having the same needs and agency, adding that “women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas are different, yet complementary”.
Accelerating the implementation of the two agendas is possible by providing accessible and flexible funding for local peacebuilding networks, promoting young women’s participation in peace processes, as well as engaging young men in discussions on gender equality. Similarly, Member States can support national and regional frameworks and integrate the two agendas into the peace and security chapter of the Pact for the Future. Expressing support for the Secretary-General’s call to action outlined in his report, he strongly encouraged the Council to regularly convene an open debate on this topic and to increase opportunities for youth to participate in its deliberations.
The representative of Luxembourg, speaking also on behalf of Belgium and the Netherlands and aligning himself with the European Union, said that, instead of discussing the respective agendas in silos, “we must integrate the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas where possible and build on the synergies between them”. States must equip young women with the right tools and allow them to develop to their fullest potential by reinforcing relevant social policies for conflict prevention and post-conflict situations. Concretely, this implies ensuring their access to equal opportunities to technical and vocational education and training and decent jobs and universal health care.
He observed that young women and girls are disproportionately impacted by security challenges posed by climate change, armed conflict, digital threats and shrinking civic space. In this regard, increasing youth and young women’s meaningful participation in policy, programming and decision-making processes has catalytic potential for efforts to prevent, mitigate and recover from conflict. He also underscored the need to integrate and strengthen youth, peace and security elements as part of mandate creations and renewals of peacekeeping operations and special political missions. As young people represent the most populous demographic in the world, he emphasized that their seat at the table must be guaranteed, including by ensuring opportunities for young peacebuilders to brief the Council.
The representative of Finland, speaking also on behalf of Jordan as co-chairs of the Group of Champions of Youth, Peace and Security, emphasized that constructive youth participation is key to building more resilient societies. To sustain the youth, peace and security agenda, she called on the Council to double its efforts in listening to the voices of young people and give the agenda the political attention it deserves, including holding an annual open debate on resolution 2250 (2015). Meaningful youth engagement must remain central in achieving the agenda’s goals, and safe dialogue between generations will inspire trust between youth and decision makers. In that regard, Member States are responsible to facilitate meaningful youth participation. Finland’s National Action Plan and Jordan’s Youth, Peace and Security are two such good examples, she said, adding that the Group of Champions will call on other States to share their efforts in New York.
While several national and regional action plans are in development, the upcoming Pact for the Future must reflect this important work. Further, investment in youth has great financial potential, she noted, recalling a study from Kenya showing that for every dollar spent on youth, the overall social return was from $5 to $10. To that end, more innovative thinking on how to finance the agenda is needed, such as the exploration of public-private partnerships. “The role of decision-makers is to work not only for the youth, but also with them. They do not need our voices to speak on their behalf. They need to get on the stage to speak for themselves,” she said. Preparations for the Summit of the Future and its Pact must take this into account.
IFIGENEIA KONTOLEONTOS, Permanent Observer for the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie to the United Nations, speaking on behalf of Louise Mushikiwabo, the Organisation’s Secretary-General, voiced support to the full participation of women and youth in crisis prevention and management, calling for their meaningful and equal involvement at all levels of conflict resolution and the need for their protection. Stressing the importance of integrating multilingualism and cultural diversity into international actions to promote peace, as outlined in the Bamako Declaration, she underscored the importance of local stakeholders in implementing the two agendas.
She went on to detail the Organization’s efforts in establishing diverse networks of expertise focusing on peace, democracy, and human rights, complemented by international youth and gender equality networks. The Organisation has developed an original approach to support the women, peace, and security agenda’s implementation, including an online training program launched in 2023 in collaboration with the Senghor University of Alexandria. This program aims to operationalize national action plans for the agenda in French-speaking countries, particularly in Africa. With a focus on key stakeholders and gender focal points, it is designed to strengthen national stakeholders involved in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and bring together a community of practitioners.
DANIEL DEL VALLE BLANCO, Permanent Observer for the International Youth Organization, highlighting the International Youth Organization’s New Youth Agenda, which focuses on peace and security as a main pillar, emphasized that preserving peace requires a comprehensive approach. This goal can only be achieved with significant participation of the youth, which for a long time were excluded from peace building processes. He urged the Council to ensure that young people are “full-fledged partners in the peace process” rather than “passive recipients” of its decisions. Underscoring that the concept of peace can vary depending on the circumstances, he called for unique measures to achieve lasting peace.
He went on to call for the gap between national plans and actual implementation for youth and women’s agendas to be urgently bridged. As well, Member States should commit to youth communities at the national and local levels and promote safe dialogue spaces. This commitment will build trust between young people and those in leadership positions as well as facilitate effective intergenerational dialogue. He also emphasized the need for data collection and information on youth issues, advocating for the establishment of youth observatories to inform policymaking.
__________
*The 9636th Meeting was closed.