A new publication, written by a young peace activist, shows why real political participation of young people at the national and local level is crucial, how it can succeed, and why young refugees and women in particular need to be considered.

Security risk, sufferer or peacemaker, young people are ascribed many roles in crises and conflicts. One thing is certain: they are the population group most affected by armed conflicts worldwide, and this trend is increasing. In 2020, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2535, which for the first time commits all UN member states to ensure the participation of young people at all decision-making levels in conflict prevention and resolution – an important step in advancing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS-Agenda) at the international level. In this FES perspective, the author, herself a young peace activist, shows why real political participation of young people at the national and local level is crucial, how it can succeed, and why young refugees and women in particular need to be considered.

Mahanta, Rhea : “Political participation is key. How to strengthen youth as peace actors.” Rhea Mahanta. Issuing department, Division for International Cooperation, Global and European Policy Department, Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung e.V., December 2022.