Youth at the Forefront of Peacebuilding
A New Era for FoRB and the SDGs
Written by Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
In his 2024 UN report, Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the alarming reality that only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track. The interconnected nature of today’s challenges calls for innovative leadership, particularly from youth, in advancing peace and development. Young people, especially those of faith, are increasingly recognized for their critical role in fostering resilience, preventing conflict, and sustaining peace due to their deep connections with local communities.
In building upon the imperative role of youth, JISRA) a five-year Dutch-funded consortium comprised of Mensen met een Missie, Tearfund, Search for Common Ground, Faith to Action, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, organized a youth advocacy mission to New York during the 2024 United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Facilitating youth participation and leadership from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali and Indonesia within the UN HLPF space ensured intersectional representation, helped to bridge the gap between global policymakers and local realities, and empowered local actors with a sense of ownership in contributing to global policies.
Training and engagement
Capacity strengthening in advocacy and lobbying efforts ahead of the HLPF was essential for young people to advocate confidently and effectively for their goals during their attendance. Led by Search for Common Ground, a training in the ‘Common Ground Approach to Advocacy’ provided a space for youth participants before and during the HLPF to learn and practice core advocacy skills that served them during the HLPF and beyond.
Throughout the week-long mission, youth engaged in conversations between Track 1, 1.5, and 2.0 on critically developing local solutions, including a meeting with the Dutch Mission to the United Nations, showcasing the imperative work of the JISRA youth and reaffirming appreciation to the Dutch government for their continued support of the JISRA project. In addition, youth attended a networking session with over 50 members of the Global Coalition on Youth Peace and Security, hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This networking opportunity allowed for youth from across the globe to share details on the work they are leading to advance peace and to find out how they could join the Global Coalition and contribute to shaping Youth, Peace and Security policies in New York. Youth also participated and engaged in the Multi-faith Advisory Council Side Event, “Interfaith Collaboration as a Model for Other Sectors,” with speakers representing diverse faith communities.
Showcasing Youth-Led initiatives
Furthermore, the JISRA project hosted a side event on the theme of, “Bridging Divides and Building Peace – Youth, FoRB and the SDGs.” Providing a platform for youth dialogue on FoRB and SDG 16 on ‘Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies’, this side event showcased experiences, challenges and opportunities of young people from diverse religious, cultural and geographic backgrounds. The side event began with opening remarks by Ambassador Rashad Hussain, the United States Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom and Ms. Ivy Koek, Representative to the UN for Soka Gakkai International. The event then transitioned into a panel discussion with four JISRA youth representatives including, Mushin Kaduyu Nuwagaba, Founder and Director of Allied Muslim Youth Uganda, Anissa Fitria, Senior Learning Officer for Peace Generation Indonesia, Haleemah Ahmad, Executive Director and Founder of Acres of Peace and Seybou Sultan, Consortium Coordinator for JISRA in Mali, as well as Ms. Ana Carolina De Almeida Kobe, Human Rights Officer for the UN Office on the Prevention of Genocide.
Setting a new standard for Youth Inclusion
As further exemplified by Ms. Kobe, “the enthusiasm, the ideas and the desire of young people to have a safer world matter. As we share the responsibility to create a better future, I encourage youth to be as creative and bold as they can not only to express themselves but also to hold adults and institutions accountable for their commitments to include young people’s perspectives on issues related to human rights, SDGs and violence prevention.” Click here to read more on key messages from the side event.
The JISRA HLPF Youth Advocacy Mission set a powerful precedent for youth inclusion in global peace and development efforts. By continuing to empower and support young leaders, the global community can collectively advance towards achieving the SDGs and building a more just and peaceful world for all.