A youthful force for peace
In an award-winning essay previously published in this newspaper, teenager Maxwell Hyman called out 鈥渢he troubling and consistent unwillingness to listen to youth.鈥澛�
Today, nearly three years later, there鈥檚 evidence that young voices are being heard, especially when it comes to pursuing peace and peaceful change. This month, youth leaders from 15 countries kicked off a yearlong Youth Peace Mediators program in South Africa, while the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace graduated another annual group of mostly young-adult 鈥減eace ambassadors.鈥�
May saw 90 young Nigerians trained to serve as community 鈥減eace champions鈥� in the resource-rich, conflict-ridden Niger Delta. And in April, a United Nations program, GenerAccion Paz, celebrated another year of peace-building projects by young leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean.聽聽
The second-most pressing global concern for young people is armed conflict (climate change is first), according to a World Economic Forum survey across more than 140 countries. Wars of various types are at a historic high, with youth being both foot soldiers and targets. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 essential that they become 鈥渃o-owners鈥� of reconciliation and resolution efforts, according to Graeme Simpson, head of Interpeace, which supports a peace mediator program. As he told the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 鈥淭he durability and legitimacy of peace processes demand [youth] buy-in.鈥澛�
But young people are barely represented in national legislatures or formal social structures. Globally, only 2.8% of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, the World Economic Forum reports. And less than a third of countries consult young people when preparing national growth plans.聽
Youth activists are increasingly clear that peace is not something they are willing to passively wait for. They want agency, action, and inclusion. More than just the absence of conflict, peace is 鈥渢he presence of justice and opportunities,鈥� says Wam Nelly-Lucy Mbu, an Institute for Economics and Peace ambassador from Cameroon. 鈥淚 want to be part of the solution, not just a witness.鈥澛�
Even in Kenya, where young adults have led recent street protests that have often ended violently, there is a parallel yearning for peace. But it鈥檚 for a peace that鈥檚 built on participation that recognizes and respects what youth can contribute.
鈥淲e are tired of dying and losing our loved ones. ... We are ready to sit down and share our ideas,鈥� The Standard newspaper reported a Kenyan student leader saying this week. 鈥淲e have the skills, the knowledge, and the capacity to contribute positively to nation-building,鈥� said the aptly named young man, Peace Love Isaa.聽聽
