This is an official side event on the occasion of the Munich Security Conference 2022.

Young people represent the largest demographic dividend in most conflict-affected countries. Still, this key demographic is too often reduced to stereotypes of “perpetrators” and “victims”; as drivers of conflict rather than enablers for peace. Pro-actively including young people in peace efforts contributes to preventing conflict, more sustainable peace agreements and more human-centered solutions to conflict.

With the increased recognition for the importance of engaging youth as partners for peace and security, starting with UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015), the international security community should explore the agency of youth for peace. Defence and security stakeholders can greatly benefit from understanding the challenges of young people in conflict-affected societies and how their systematic engagement can lead to sustaining peace.

Building a bridge from policy to practice, the event seeks to highlight the necessity, opportunities and practical ways of including youth in peace efforts. Participants will discover how states, international organizations, civil society, and youth activists are contributing to security and how they can further advance these efforts.

The event will aim to inspire further action towards mainstreaming the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda into action – just in time before the UN Secretary General is expected to publish a report on Youth, Peace and Security in 2022.


Welcoming remarks:
High-level official of the German Foreign Ministry, of the European Union or of the UN Secretariat     

Panelists:
H.E. Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Julius Kramer, Youth, Peace and Security Adviser, UN Mission in Somalia
Ret. Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Watkins, Canada, and Director of Capacity Building Programmes at the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
Achaleke Leke, African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace for Central African sub-region
Sheila Roquitte, Deputy Development Advisor to AFRICOM at USAID
Hajer Sharif, Together We Build It and Extremely Together Young Leader of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Libya
Aisha Khurram, Former Afghan Youth Delegate

Speakers from Audience Who will be Invited to Make an Intervention:
Dr. Shelly Whitman, Executive Director, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
Burundi Police Commissioner

Moderator:
Saji Prelis, Director, Children & Youth Programmes, Search for Common Ground, and Co-Chair, Global Coalition on Youth, Peace & Security 

Please note: All speakers and panelists are subject to availability.


Photo: ©NASA / unsplash.com