While often hailed as the leaders of tomorrow, the role that the world’s approximately 1.8 billion young people —about one quarter of the global population—can play today in promoting more peaceful and inclusive societies is often overlooked. Yet, the engagement of youth is essential for ensuring sustainable and inclusive peace, as recognised by Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.
Building on the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation’s work on inclusive peacebuilding, the Foundation has been exploring youth engagement in development and peacebuilding, with case studies on Liberia, Myanmar and Tunisia. This paper presents findings compiled from these studies, with an aim of highlighting how young people participate in peace efforts, what specific challenges they face and suggestions for strengthening their engagement.