The Secretary-General's Second Report On Youth Peace And Security.
The Youth Café, with an area in Peace & Security, actively engaging youth in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security while advocating for the prevention of violent extremism through social media platforms, is publishing the Secretary-General's second Report on Youth peace and security. The present report is submitted pursuant to resolution 2535 (2020), in which the Security Council requested a biennial report on the implementation of resolutions 2535 (2020), 2419 (2018), and 2250 (2015).
When the first report of the Secretary-General on youth and peace and security (S/2020/167) was presented to the Security Council in April 2020, the world had just been shaken by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Two years later, the effect of the pandemic on young people's lives and prospects remains systematic, deep, and disproportionate, with disrupted access to education and services, massive growth in youth unemployment, and an aggravated mental health crisis.
The COVID-19 crisis has significantly exacerbated the root causes of conflict and has magnified existing socioeconomic and political vulnerabilities and inequalities experienced by young people, especially in contexts where conflict and crises have undermined institutional capacities and limited access to services. Young people with specific needs are at a heightened risk and are particularly vulnerable, especially if their identities are intersectional, such as young women, young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) people and young people living with disabilities.
This is further compounded for refugees, internally displaced persons, migrants, young people who are homeless or out of school, young people living in informal settlements or rural areas, young people living with HIV/AIDS, and young people from ethnic minorities or indigenous groups. The gendered effects of the pandemic have been particularly severe, and the risk is that they will reverse gains made in gender equality.
Nevertheless, young people continued to mobilize and demand fairer and more peaceful societies. Before and during the pandemic, young people participated in and often led large public protests across the globe, demanding better democratic systems, gender equality, economic opportunities, social justice, and transformative action on climate change. Young women often played leading and visible roles in the protest movements despite increased threats to their safety and well-being, particularly online.
In Sudan, young people remained at the forefront of calls for a peaceful political transition, tirelessly pushing for peaceful and inclusive change despite communication shutdowns and violent repression. In Nigeria, mass protests led by young people resulted in the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and improved police accountability. In Myanmar, healthcare workers and young people initiated a civil disobedience movement responding to the military takeover on 1 February 2021. Mass protests also took place in many countries worldwide, with young activists demanding racial equality, justice, and police accountability.
The "lockdown generation" showed an indomitable spirit of resilience and leadership in addressing today's challenges. The accelerated digitalization of civic space and participation opportunities offered a chance for wider engagement and inclusion while also presenting new protection challenges requiring urgent action. Six years after the adoption of resolution 2250 (2015), young people's crucial contributions to peace are yet to be systematically recognized, promoted, and embraced.
As highlighted in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Our Common Agenda" (A/75/982), young people lack trust in the ability of existing institutions and leadership to meet their concerns. The renewal of the social contract requires a deepening of intergenerational solidarity and a focus on the meaningful, diverse, and effective engagement of young people within and outside the United Nations. The youth and peace and security agenda is a powerful vehicle for realizing these goals and achieving a new agenda for peace in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The present report covers progress in implementing the youth and peace and security agenda since January 2020. It addresses the five pillars outlined in resolution 2250 (2015): participation, protection, prevention, disengagement and reintegration, and partnerships. The report is informed by analysis and data provided by the United Nations, the Member States, regional organizations, and civil society organizations, including organizations led by and focused on young people.
Young people have faced unprecedented challenges in the past two years owing to multiple crises: the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, climate change, violence, and armed conflict, and their compounded effects. However, the mobilization of young people for peace, social justice, climate action, and equality remained unfaltering and critical to the peaceful development of societies. Young women and men have continued to drive peace even though the impact of the pandemic has reinforced barriers and created new challenges for their meaningful participation in peace and security processes.
The safety, security, and protection of young people have not improved: shrinking civic spaces, coupled with the impact of armed conflicts and the pandemic, have led to acute protection challenges requiring urgent action. Young people – young women in particular – are at risk of being left behind in terms of education, economic opportunities, health, and social protection during a crucial stage of their lives. Inclusive partnerships with young peacebuilders are crucial to the youth, peace, and security agenda and should be prioritized by all partners.
Preventive efforts can only be effective if use is made of the capacities, perspectives, contextual knowledge, and creativity of diverse groups of young people. The institutionalization of the agenda has noticeably accelerated since the first report on youth and peace and security (S/2020/167). Yet, profound challenges persist that meaningful concern participation of young people in decision-making and financing for peacebuilding is led by and inclusive of young people.
The Youth Café works with young men and women around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience, and transformative change.
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