In December 2015, the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security was unanimously adopted. For the first time, the Security Council urged Member States to consider ways to give youth a greater voice in decision-making at local, national, regional, and international levels by requesting “a progress study on the youth’s positive contribution to peace processes and conflict resolution, in order to recommend effective responses at local, national, regional and international levels”.

 

The United Nations Association in Canada, in support of this mandate, hosted the Youth as Peacebuilders Forum as a focus event of the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial (UNPKDM), which took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on November 14-15, 2017. This event was prefaced by a series of consultations with Canadian youth, which addressed the following themes: UNSCR 2250 and the concepts of youth, peace, and security; youth initiatives, engagement, and partnerships; and recommendations, including challenges and solutions. These consultations support the ongoing Progress Study on Youth, Peace, and Security.

 

At a time where the youth population is proportionally the largest that the world has ever known, the inclusion of youth voices at the UNPKDM was an important priority. The Youth as Peacebuilders Forum and consultations were organized by the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada), aiming to:
 

• Elevate the Canadian youth perspective in peacebuilding;

•  Showcase the positive role young people play in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security;

• Review and validate the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security being undertaken by the United Nations Secretariat.

The United Nations Association in Canada is proud to have hosted and facilitated this youth engagement with remarkable young citizens with the support of the Government of Canada.