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10 Years of Youth, Peace and Security

A comprehensive timeline of key milestones, resolutions, and initiatives advancing the YPS agenda globally

Pre-2015

Foundation Building Era

Early momentum building by youth organizations and the development of foundational frameworks.

  • 🎯 Mid-2000s: UNOY, Search for Common Ground, Cordaid, YPIC (Youth Advocacy Team), and others begin building early momentum for YPS
  • 2005 onward: Youth organisations lobby for inclusion in Security Council's agenda, often in margins of WPS debates
  • 2010: UN's "Guiding Principles on Young People's Participation in Peacebuilding" developed
  • 2010-2012: Arab Spring and global youth-led movements reshape perception of youth as change agents
  • 2012: Global Coalition on Youth, Peace, and Security (GCYPS) formed
  • 🎯 17 January 2013: Establishment of the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth (OSGEY) - Ahmad Alhendawi named first UN Youth Envoy
👤
Ahmad Alhendawi
First UN Youth Envoy
(2013-2017)
Foundation: These efforts laid the groundwork for unanimous adoption of UNSC Resolution 2250 in December 2015
2015

Historic Breakthrough Year

The landmark year that officially established the YPS agenda on the global stage.

  • 🎯 August 15-16: Amman Youth Declaration on YPS adopted by 10,000+ youth from 110+ countries at Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security
  • 🎯 December 9: UNSC Resolution 2250 - First thematic resolution on YPS with five pillars: participation, protection, prevention, partnership, and disengagement/reintegration
  • Advisory Group of Experts: Peacebuilding Architecture Review highlights youth inclusion as central to sustaining peace
🏛️
Global Forum on Youth,
Peace and Security
Amman, Jordan

🇺🇳 UNSC Resolution 2250

First Thematic Resolution on Youth, Peace & Security

Participation
Protection
Prevention
Partnership
Disengagement & Reintegration
2016

Implementation and Study Launch

Beginning of the comprehensive Progress Study and system-wide coordination efforts.

  • 🎯 Independent Progress Study commissioned: Mandated by UNSCR 2250, engaging 4,200+ young people from 153 countries through radically participatory methodology
  • National and regional consultations: Catalyzing YPS networks in West Africa, Latin America, and MENA
  • UN Inter-Agency Working Group revitalized: Including UNFPA, PBSO, UNDP, UNOY
  • 🎯 Peacebuilding Fund: First dedicated call for youth-focused projects through Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative - mainstreaming youth as peacebuilding actors through funding
2017

Leadership and Coalition Building

New leadership and the formation of national coalitions and champion groups.

  • 🎯 June 20: Jayathma Wickramanayake named second UN Youth Envoy (first female envoy)
  • 🎯 December 9: Jordan creates first national YPS coalition - Jordan Youth Peace and Security 2250 National Coalition
  • National coalitions emerge: Nigeria, Colombia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • 🎯 "Group of Champions" formed: Led by Jordan and Norway to mobilize political will and coordinate policy efforts for YPS agenda
👩‍💼
Jayathma Wickramanayake
Second UN Youth Envoy
First Female Envoy (2017-2024)
🤝
Jordan Youth Peace & Security
2250 National Coalition
First National Multi-Stakeholder Coalition
2018

Progress Study and Strategic Framework

Publication of the foundational Progress Study and second UNSC resolution.

  • 🎯 April 23: Presentation of the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security to the UNSC - "The Missing Peace" becomes normative backbone of YPS agenda
  • 🎯 June 6: UNSCR 2419 - Second YPS resolution urging inclusive youth representation in formal peace negotiations
  • 🎯 September 24: UN Secretary-General announces Youth2030 strategy as umbrella framework for youth engagement
📊
"The Missing Peace"
Progress Study Presentation
UN Security Council
Youth2030 Strategy: UN umbrella strategy for working with and for youth across all pillars - primary coordination framework for YPS agenda
2019

Guidelines and Regional Expansion

Development of practical implementation guidelines and regional frameworks.

  • UN System-Wide Guidelines developed: Translating UNSCR 2250 into practical guidance for UN entities
  • 🎯 November (Abidjan): First high-level regional conference on YPS in Africa co-organized by AU, UNDP, and Côte d'Ivoire
  • Foundation for AU Continental Framework: Laying groundwork for 2022 adoption
2020

Institutionalization and Reporting

Securing permanent space for YPS on the Security Council agenda through regular reporting.

  • 🎯 July 14: UNSCR 2535 - Third YPS resolution requiring biennial Secretary-General reporting
  • 🎯 September: First UN Secretary-General's Report on YPS reviewing global progress and challenges
  • Permanent agenda space: YPS issues secured on Security Council's ongoing agenda
📋
First UN Secretary-General's
Report on YPS
Global Progress Review
2021-2022

National Action Plans and Regional Frameworks

Countries begin adopting dedicated National Action Plans while regional frameworks are established.

  • 🎯 August 2021: Finland becomes first country to adopt a dedicated National Action Plan on YPS
  • November 2021: Nigeria adopts National Action Plan
  • 🎯 June 2022: African Union Continental Framework on YPS adopted with 10-year implementation plan
  • August 2022: DRC adopts National Action Plan
  • August 2022: Philippines adopts National Action Plan
  • 🎯 September 2022: UNGAR 76/305 on financing for peacebuilding and creation of UN Youth Office
2023

Regional Strategies and New Leadership

Development of regional strategies and transition to new UN leadership structure.

  • 🎯 May 26: Arab Regional Strategy for Youth, Peace, and Security (2023-2028) adopted
  • October 27: Felipe Paullier named first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs
  • Structural reform emphasis: Focus on inter-agency coordination and accountability mechanisms
2024-2025

Future Commitments and Second Progress Study

Looking ahead with new commitments and preparation for comprehensive evaluation.

  • 🎯 September 2024: Pact for the Future adopted, explicitly mandating second independent Progress Study on YPS
  • November 2024: Malawi adopts National Action Plan
  • 🎯 February 2025: Gambia adopts National Action Plan on YPS
  • 2025: Second Independent Progress Study on YPS begins - youth-led and participatory
  • Ongoing: UN Youth Office consolidates system-wide coordination under ASG Paullier

This timeline represents a decade of groundbreaking progress in recognizing and institutionalizing youth as essential actors in peace and security globally.

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