Glbal Frum n Yuth, Peace and Security Jrdan, 21-22 August 2015 BACKGROUND Tday s generatin f yung peple (10-24 year ld), at 1.8 billin, is the largest the wrld has ever knwn. The grwth in yuth ppulatin is particularly prminent in develping cuntries in sub-saharan Africa, Suth Asia, and in the Arab States. While a predminantly yung ppulatin ffers a cuntry an unprecedented pprtunity fr innvatin, develpment and ecnmic grwth, tday s yung peple live with a grwing threat and reality f vilence and armed cnflict. Mre than 1.5 billin peple live in fragile and cnflict-affected states, r in cuntries where levels f criminal vilence are very high. Over 51 millin peple are frcibly displaced as a result f persecutin, cnflict, generalized vilence, r human rights vilatins 1. While the numbers f interstate and civil wars have declined in the last quarter f a century, wars are still waged and many mre cuntries are still grappling with multiple and ften interlinked and cyclical frms f vilence terrrism, plitical vilence, criminal gangs, rganized crime, etc. This vilence extracts enrmus and lng-lasting human, scial and ecnmic csts (Wrld Develpment Reprt 2011). The discurse n such cnflicts ver the past decade, including n recent vilent extremism in different parts f the wrld, has unfrtunately reflected the rle f yung peple particularly yung men, but als increasingly yung wmen wh make up 10-30% f armed frces and armed grups wrldwide as members f terrrist and extremist grups, leading t a ppular depictin f yung peple as a threat t glbal security and stability. Yet, research shws that the vast majrity f yung peple have nthing at all t d with vilence, and nly a minrity f yung peple turn t vilence in any cntext. And thrughut histry, yung men have always been the rank and file f bth regular and irregular armies this is nthing new. Nnetheless, glbal patterns and grwing incidence f vilence, extremism and instability challenge the wrld cmmunity t lk fr mre innvative slutins and appraches that will better cntribute t the resilience f cmmunities and the inclusiveness f scieties, and will respnd t the demgraphic and demcratic imperatives t ffer meaningful avenues fr yung peple t shape the future f their cuntries. Fcusing attentin and investments nly n the small prprtin f yung men and wmen wh cmmit vilence risks neglect f the majrity wh dn t, and certainly fails t engage strategically thse wh might. 1 UNHCR, Glbal Trends 2013. 1
A grwing bdy f field evidence and academic research 2 shws that, in reality, the vast majrity f yung peple can play active and valuable rles as agents f psitive and cnstructive change. In fact many already d, but such cntributin is ften unseen r simply verlked. Yung men s and yung wmen s participatin in peacebuilding is a largely untapped resurce. Their actual cntributin and further ptential shuld be valued, recgnised, and supprted by all actrs, including the internatinal cmmunity, as a key t durable and inclusive peace, stability and ecnmic prsperity. Yuth-led and yuth-engaging interventins aimed at cuntering extremists narratives, prmting tlerance and nnvilent cnflict reslutin and building peace can help draw n the innate resilience f cmmunities and underpin the strengthening f demcratic, inclusive gvernance. Recent effrts by civil sciety rganizatins (including yuth-led rganizatins), internatinal nngvernmental rganizatins (NGOs) and the United Natins have helped raise awareness f these issues, and f the need fr increased crdinatin and cllabratin f actrs actively engaged in supprting yuth participatin in peacebuilding. An inter-agency grup n yuth and peacebuilding, including ver 60 UN entities, internatinal NGOs, civil sciety rganizatins and dnrs, has been leading the effrts t deepen cllective attentin t the psitive rle yung peple can play fr internatinal peace and security. Guiding Principles n Yung Peple s Participatin in Peacebuilding were frmulated t supprt the necessary substantive shift in apprach. Overall, hwever, these effrts are incipient and nt yet reflected in public plicies. Internatinal and natinal dialgue abut yuth develpment may be n the rise, including in the cntext f the pst-2015 develpment agenda, as is the glbal dialgue n peacebuilding, cuntering vilent extremism, and preventing cnflict. But these tw streams f plicy cnsideratin yuth develpment n ne side, peacebuilding/ cuntering extremism/ preventing cnflict n the ther are mre ften cnducted in parallel, discnnected frm each ther and ccurring with little mutual reference. Nevertheless, partnering with yung peple will be the key t building sustainable and inclusive peace. VISION The Glbal Frum, t be hsted by the Hashemite Kingdm f Jrdan under the Patrnage f His Ryal Highness Crwn Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, is envisaged as a turning pint twards a new internatinal agenda n yuth, peace and security. Stemming frm the thematic debate rganized by the Hashemite Kingdm f Jrdan during its presidency f the Security Cuncil in April 2015, the Frum will build n cntinuing effrts by a multiplicity f actrs t decisively step-up glbal attentin t yung peple s cntributin t peace and chart a cmmn agenda. Fr the first gathering f this kind, yung peple, yuth-led rganizatins, nn-gvernmental rganizatins, gvernments and UN entities will cme tgether t agree n a cmmn visin and radmap t partner with yung peple t prevent cnflict, cunter vilent extremism and build lasting peace. 2 See fr example research by Marc Smmers, Jasn Hart, Sibhan McEvy-Levy and Gary Barker. 2
EXPECTED OUTCOMES 1) At the plicy level, the Amman Declaratin n Yuth, Peace and Security, which will present yung peple s visin and radmap twards a strengthened plicy framewrk in supprt f yung peple s rles in preventing and transfrming cnflict, cuntering vilent extremism and building peace. This Amman Declaratin will be entirely develped by yung peple, building n the Guiding Principles fr Yung Peple s Participatin in Peacebuilding. The Amman Declaratin n Yuth, Peace and Security will be used in the mnths fllwing the Frum t engage high-level decisin-makers twards the adptin f a new internatinal framewrk. 2) An enhanced calitin f existing yuth netwrks, yuth-led rganizatins and yung leaders t lbby Member States and decisin-makers, n the basis f the Amman Declaratin n Yuth, Peace and Security, t elevate discussins t the Security Cuncil and ther high-level fra. The Frum shuld als lead t the identificatin f cncrete avenues t supprt yung peple wrking n cnflict preventin and transfrmatin, n cuntering vilent extremism and n peacebuilding t help them expand current interventins, prjects and prgrammes in rder t decisively enhance the supprt prvided lcally, natinally and internatinally t yung peple and their netwrks. The Frum will als help cnslidate yuth rganizatins partnership with existing crdinatin platfrms such as the Wrking Grup n Yuth & Peacebuilding and the Glbal Partnership fr Children and Yuth in Peacebuilding, as way t deepen the relatinships between yuth civil sciety rganizatins and ther stakehlders. 3) An expanded evidence-base demnstrating the psitive cntributin f yung peple t cnflict preventin and transfrmatin and peacebuilding, by ffering a platfrm t share plicy mdels, prgrammatic experiences and stries f cmmunity and individual resilience and resistance t vilence and incitement t hatred. This will ultimately cntribute t imprved prgramming quality f interventins, better infrmed yuth friendly plicies as well as greater accuntability frm dnrs and internatinal rganizatins twards yung peple. 4) The launch f a glbal multimedia and cmmunicatin campaign (#yuth4peace) aimed at highlighting the imprtant effrts f yung peple wh are shaping their cmmunities cnstructively despite the vilence and risks they face; creating a space fr yuth t share pinins n the rle f yuth in cuntering vilent extremism and prmting peace; and curating an nline glbal cnversatin n the rle f yuth in peacebuilding cnflict transfrmatin and cuntering vilent extremism. FORMAT The Frum will gather a mix f high-level participants and technical-level participants wh will engage thrugh an array f panels, rund-tables and breakut sessins. The driving principle fr the full duratin f this Frum will be t create the space fr meaningful intergeneratinal dialgue: it will create the cnditins fr cmmn understanding and respect between generatins and increase dialgue and cperatin between yung peple and adults t wrk tgether t prevent and reslve 3
vilence, extremism and cnflict lcally, reginally and internatinally. Between 150 and 200 participants in the Glbal Frum will be yung peple (age 15-35).Yung peple will be represented as speakers, mderatrs, rapprteurs, etc. thrughut all plenary discussins, panels and wrking grups. KEY TOPICS The Frum will cver a wide range f tpics related t cuntering vilent extremism, cnflict preventin, vilence reductin and peacebuilding, in rder t reflect n yung peple s cntributin t these fields. The three key verarching themes t be addressed, each with a select set f sub-tpics, include: 1. Yung Peple s Participatin: An Untapped Resurce fr Peace and Security Yung peple s resilience: stries frm cnflict-affected znes Yung peple frm all regins f the wrld will share their persnal stries f resistance t hatred, vilence and cnflict and the wrk they have undertaken t supprt tlerance, inclusiveness, peace in their cmmunities and peaceful cexistence with ther cmmunities. Yuth leadership, engagement and rganizing In vilence- and cnflict-affected situatins, yuth activism and yuth rganizatins and assciatins play a vital rle in building scial chesin. Hwever, frmal institutins and rganizatins tend t nly be accessible t mre privileged, educated, and urban yuth. Supprting grassrts yuth grups that are nt frmally structured can be challenging, and yet plicy-makers and civil sciety need t partner with hard-t-reach, marginalized yuth. Hw can the right partnerships be built? And hw can grassrts grups be supprted when they are nt set up t respnd t dnrs r internatinal actrs wrking methds? Yung wmen shaping peace The narratives n the rle f yung peple in peacebuilding, and the prgrammes develped in respnse tend t be very schematically gendered, and t de fact fcus n yung men. Yet yung wmen are als in the frntlines demanding participatin and demcracy, expanding the rule f law, hlding gvernments accuntable, and actively shaping the curse f cnflict and peace. Peacebuilding plicy and practice need t engage yung wmen much mre systematically and strategically. 2. Speech and Cunter Speech Hw can we cunter war/cnflict narratives that attract yung peple with their easy slutins and simplified wrld view? Hw d we make the narrative f peace attractive? Religin/inter-religius/culture-related speech and cunter speech Religin and faith ften play a central rle in the lives f yung peple. Thrughut histry, yuth have drawn n spiritual inspiratin t cntribute t their families, cmmunities and scieties. Religin-based and inter-faith initiatives by yung peple can cntribute t cmmunity chesin and mutual understanding. The rle f yung peple in cuntering vilent extremism It is essential t reflect n the push and pull factrs at play in yung wmen and men s invlvement in bth vilence and resistance t vilence, and find ways t nurture and amplify 4
factrs that keep mre yung peple invlved as cnstructive and respnsible citizens. These factrs are cntext-specific and may be cmplex. Simplistic, generalized, and ut-f-cntext explanatins fuel inadequate plicies and ineffective prgrammes. But prmising initiatives can link at-risk yuth with respnsible influencers and leaders in their cmmunities. Media and Cmmunicatin Yung peple are adept at utilizing technlgy and different media platfrms in ways that can bth fment instability and prmte nn-vilence. 3. The Rle f State and the Internatinal Cmmunity Investing in yuth capacities fr peace and stability It is the respnsibility f States and f the internatinal cmmunity t make the right investments which will enable yung peple t cntribute t peace, by ensuring that they have meaningful avenues t engage in scial and plitical life and can access quality educatin and vcatinal training and ecnmic pprtunities. Gvernment dnrs, multilateral agencies and private fundatins will highlight hw they can invest in yuth as partners in peacebuilding rather than nly as victims f cnflict r trublemakers that need crrectin and assistance. This sessin will als discuss hw yung peple can jin frces and speak with ne vice when appraching plicy-makers and dnrs. Gvernance and participatin Yung peple s participatin in plitical prcesses and public administratin is essential t shape hw gvernment and cmmunities can increase scial chesin and prevent cnflict. Yung peple have an imprtant rle t play in hlding institutins accuntable t the peple. An exhibitin space / cultural prgram will run thrughut the Frum and will feature art and ther frms f expressin by yung peple frm cnflict-affected and pst-cnflict cuntries. An internet / scial media platfrm will als be develped. Backgrund dcumentatin will be made available t participants in advance f the Frum, including the Guiding Principles n Yung Peple s Participatin in Peacebuilding and the Practice Nte n Yung Peple s Participatin in Peacebuilding. ORGANIZATION The Glbal Frum will be hsted by the Hashemite Kingdm f Jrdan under the Patrnage f His Ryal Highness Crwn Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, and c-rganized by the United Natins represented, n behalf f the Inter-Agency Netwrk n Yuth Develpment (IANYD), by the Office f the Secretary- General Envy n Yuth (OSGEY), the United Natins Peacebuilding Supprt Office (PBSO), UNFPA and UNDP, in partnership with Search fr Cmmn Grund and the United Netwrk f Yung Peacebuilders. The c-rganizing UN entities and civil sciety partners will represent the IANYD Wrking Grup n Yuth participatin in Peacebuilding, which is c-chaired by PBSO and Search fr Cmmn Grund. This Wrking Grup will be the primary platfrm t cnsult and engage a wider cnstituency f rganizatins 5
wrking n yuth and peacebuilding in the preparatin and fllw-up t this Frum. The brad Inter- Agency Netwrk n Yuth Develpment, bringing tgether 42 United Natins entities, will be instrumental in securing the United Natins engagement in and fllw up t this Frum. PARTICIPANTS 400 t 500 participants frm all regins f the wrld, including: - Senir representatives frm Member States - Yung peple, primarily representing yuth rganizatins and yuth grups - UN entities - INGOs - Fundatins and dnr agencies - Academics - Media DATES: 21-22 August 2015, Amman FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The hst cuntry will cver the internatinal travel csts and accmmdatin fr 150 participants. The partnering United Natins agencies will cver the travel csts and accmmdatin fr 50 experts and resurce persns frm the UN system and ther partner rganizatins. 100 participants are expected t jin lcally (n travel/accmmdatin csts). Up t anther 200 participants culd attend if fully selffunding their participatin (travel, accmmdatin). The hst cuntry will cver lcal transprtatin fr all participants. CONTRIBUTION FROM THE UN SYSTEM AND CIVIL SOCIETY: The c-rganizing UN entities and civil sciety partners will prvide the necessary technical and substantive supprt, in line with their mandates, including the design f the event and specific sessins, identifying speakers and participants, nline prmtin and crdinatin with the rest f the UN system, INGOs and civil sciety rganizatins. The IANYD Wrking Grup n Yuth and Peacebuilding will ensure fllw-up n the Frum utcmes. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please check www.yuth4peace.inf fr updated infrmatin n the Frum. 6