September 19, 2024 – New York, NY
At the high-level roundtable “Empowering Youth for a Peaceful Future: Advancing the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda at the Summit of the Future,” Khaled Emam, representing Justice Call, delivered a call to action. Speaking to a diverse group of representatives from governments, civil society, and the Group of Champions on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS), he emphasized the need for concrete measures to enhance the YPS Agenda.
Khaled highlighted that political and financial support for the YPS Agenda remains limited, with YPS language in policy often emerging from struggles rather than as a core principle. He urged the Group of Champions to ensure that YPS is integrated into policy and programming at the same level as the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and Children in Armed Conflict (CAAC) agendas.
Reflecting on Justice Call and GPPAC’s efforts, Khaled acknowledged the revitalization of the Group of Friends on YPS under the leadership of Finland and Jordan. However, he cautioned against relying solely on rhetorical commitments and emphasized the need for systematic engagement with youth. “We cannot continuously raise awareness and make the same statements,” he stated. “If there is an engagement mechanism within the Group of Champions to capitalize on our expertise and use it to drive change, we can all benefit.”
Khaled also called for more direct funding for youth-led initiatives and recommended that young people design the upcoming second progress study on YPS, as outlined in the Pact for the Future. He concluded by urging participants to move beyond discussions and take actionable steps, ensuring that by next year, there are tangible initiatives that build on the progress made and commemorate the YPS Agenda’s achievements.
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