| Abstract |
Despite recent normative policy advances promoting increased youth participation and inclusion in peacebuilding initiatives, youth contributions, and youth-led groups remain an underappreciated source of agency and leadership in the peacebuilding space. This chapter highlights local youth-led organizational efforts to bridge ethnic gaps caused by violent conflict, as well as youth-led peace initiatives. This chapter examines youth participation practices and strategies leveraging synergies between SDG 16 and the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda. The first section situates young people within current normative frameworks and emphasizes the need for youth-led policy advocacy. Youth peacebuilding is defined in the second section, which examines youth participation at all stages of the peace process while describing their current proximity to peacebuilding discussions. This next section then discusses the challenges that young people face and offers suggestions for how international, regional, national, and local actors might assist young people in harnessing their present efforts to further sustaining peace work. |
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology