UN Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) was the first resolution to acknowledge the critical role young women and men play in the sustainability and promotion of international peace and security. As a response to Resolution 2250, in August 2016, UN Secretary-General appointed Graeme Simpson, Director of Interpeace USA, to develop a progress study on youth’s positive contribution to peace processes and conflict resolution.  This progress study will help recommend effective responses on how to give youth a greater voice in decision-making at local, national, regional and international levels, as well as help Member States set up appropriate mechanisms to enable young people’s meaningful participation in peace processes.

Graeme Simpson, Director of Interpeace USA. Photo credit: Shiho Fukada/Panos for Interpeace

Over the course of 18 months, Graeme Simpson with the support of Interpeace and an Advisory Group of Experts, including 21 scholars, practitioners and young leaders, led the Progress Study through a participatory research process including focus group discussions, regional and national consultations with a total of 4,230 young people, as well as research in 27 countries, mapping exercises and surveys. Mr.  Simpson describes “Our methodology was deliberately organized to provide access and voice to many young people who would not ordinarily have had the chance to participate in this sort of policy process. Through consultations, country studies, focus group discussions and online contributions, they shared their hopes and aspirations for a peaceful world and described their incredible initiatives, commitments and dedication to peace and security.”

The Progress Study entitled, “The Missing Peace: Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security” is now published and will be presented in an Open Debate of the United Nations Security Council on 23 April, 2018, under the Presidency of Peru, the day before the High-level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace organized by the President of the General Assembly. The Study defines fundamental issues and areas of interventions for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda and defines a strategy for the implementation of SCR 2250. A full version of the Study will be published on July 2018.

Read the Security Council version of Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security in anglais, Spanish or French.