Introduction
Despite the lack of a universally acceptable definition of youth, today’s generation of young people constitute the largest the world has ever known, with more than half of the world’s population below the ages of 30. This number alone justifies the need for youths’ inclusion and meaningful participation in decision-making especially in relation to peacebuilding and development. However, global discourses on young people often centre on their involvement in conflicts and violence. In Nigeria specifically, they are usually regarded as perpetrators and major protagonists in most violent conflicts. Young people are seen as having little regards for constituted authorities and are incapable of playing positive role in the socio-political and economic development in their various communities and regions. However, though youths are vulnerable to violence and even sometimes involved in it, all through history, young people have played and are still playing an active role in peacebuilding both at the local, national, and international level.
To transform this stereotypical narrative, on December 9, 2015, during its 7573rd meeting, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under the leadership of Jordan unanimously adopted the UNSC Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security. This resolution serves as a major milestone in the recognition of the positive role of youth in peacebuilding. This is because, prior to this time, there had been no resolution that completely addressed young people’s interest in peace and security. This paper provides an insight on the resolution, its five pillars, and what it means for young people across the world.
The journey towards the adoption of UNSCR 2250
The journey towards UNSCR 2250 began as an attempt by CSOs, NGOs, and other youth-led organisations to change the negative narrative of young people as perpetrators of violence to highlighting their positive role and capacity for peacebuilding. Some of these include:
The UNSCR 2250 and Youth Peacebuilding
- In January 2012, a working group on youth and peacebuilding was created to provide a platform for information sharing, coordination, policy discussion, and joint advocacy to organisations and entities working on promoting youth participation in peacebuilding.
- In April 2014, the working group developed a guiding principle on young people’s participation in peacebuilding to serve as a policy framework on youth, peace, and security
- In April 2015, the United Nations Security Council under the presidency of Jordan held an open debate on “The role of youth in countering violent extremism and promoting peace”.
- In August 2015, Jordan also hosted the Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security, a major outcome of which was the Amman Youth Declaration, which represents young people’s commitment to fostering peaceful societies.
- The Amman Declaration also included a call for the United Nations to create a global policy framework on youth in conflict and violent scenarios. It suggested a UNSCR on YPS as an ideal outcome. Thus, during its 7573rd meeting held on December 9, 2015, the resolution 2250 on youth, peace, and security was unanimously adopted.
The UNSCR 2250 represents the first formal effort made by the United Nations and its member states in recognizing and acknowledging the positive contributions of young people to promoting and maintaining international peace and security. All member states, including Nigeria, also agreed to implement the resolution in their domains, in order to tap into the potentials of young people for peace. The main objective of the resolution was to recognize young people as equal partners for peacebuilding, marking a shift in the negative narratives of young people as troublemakers and perpetrators of violence to their recognition as peacebuilders and positive assets to their community. It also highlights gender equality as a tool for peace, drawing from the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. The resolution provides a framework for viewing, addressing, designing, and evaluating peacebuilding activities of young people. The resolution focuses on five action plans/pillars that makes up the YPS agenda:
- Participation: This pillar captures the essence of the resolution by enhancing the active and meaningful participation of youth in peacebuilding. It urges member states to consider ways to increase inclusive representation of youth in decision-making at all levels in local, national and international institutions, and mechanisms for conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and for countering violent extremism. It urges member states to support local youth peace initiatives and empower youth in peacebuilding.
- Protection: Calls for the protection of young people from all harm, including sexual/gender-based violence, especially during armed conflict and post-conflict situation/environment. Protecting youths also implies investigating and prosecuting those responsible for the crimes carried out against young people.
- Prevention: It urges member states to create an inclusive and enabling environment in which youth actors are recognised and provided with adequate support to implement violence prevention activities and support social cohesion.
- Partnership: This pillar emphasises that partnerships are crucial for sustaining peace. Thus, member states are urged to maintain strong partnerships with youth to guarantee the success of peacebuilding interventions. It also urges member states to increase their political, financial, technical, and logistical support that takes account of the needs and participation of youths in peace efforts, in conflict, and post-conflict situation.
- Disengagement and Reintegration: It encourages all those involved in the planning for disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration to consider the needs of youths affected by armed conflicts. Also, by keeping the focus on helping to rehabilitate the few youth involved in violence, DDR efforts can become more sustainable.
What does this resolution mean for young people?
The UNSCR 2250 places young people at the centre of peacebuilding agenda, serving as an important document that helps to change the negative perceptions and prejudices people hold against youth. This resolution provides legitimacy, visibility, and recognition to young people’s efforts in issues related to peace and security.
The resolution has also provided a platform for Nigerian youths to identify with and participate actively in peacebuilding. The awareness of the resolution has brought more youths into the peacebuilding sphere.
The resolution has also helped to create partnerships between youth led organisations and other peace stakeholders. The resolution serves as an effective advocacy tool for youth peacebuilders and Nigerian youths to approach government, local and international institutions to support youth-led peace initiatives and create an enabling environment to support youth leadership.
Irrespective of the sector where you work, the UNSCR 2250 is an important document that can be used in reminding the government of the need for meaningful inclusion of young people in all sector. The UNSCR 2250 offers an instrument for young people to ensure that youth participation in peace talks is not just an afterthought but is an essential part of the peace design. It shows that young people need to be in the driving seat when it comes to peacebuilding process.
It is also worthy to note that Building Blocks for Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE) has already documented some of the ways through which young Nigerians have been leveraging on the provisions contained in the UNSCR 2250 to scale up their peacebuilding interventions. In its published book titled, “Connecting and Amplifying Voices of Youth Building Peace in Nigeria”, the organisation profiles, showcases, and highlights the positive contributions of young people to peacebuilding and sustainable development in Nigeria.
References
Akhigbe, A.O., and Effevottu, E.S. (2020). The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 and youth peacebuilding in Nigeria. In R.A. Lawal., A.O. Akhigbe and E.S. Effevottu. (Eds). Connecting and amplifying voices of youth building peace in Nigeria (pp.10-25). Ibadan, Nigeria: Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.
UNSCR 2250. (2015). UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security. New York: UN.