As the world celebrates International Youth Day, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advocacy (YIAGA) has reiterated that Young people’s inclusion in the peace and security agenda and in society, is key to building and sustaining peace. The process of social inclusion for youth according to YIAGA includes participation in decision-making as well as access to quality education, health care and basic services promotes their role as active contributors to society and affords young people with opportunities to reach their potential and achieve their goals.
According to the statement released to commemorate the annual youth day celebration, since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2250 in 2015, there is growing recognition that as agents of change, young people are critical actors in conflict prevention and sustaining peace.
“International Youth Day 2017 is dedicated to celebrating young people’s contributions to conflict prevention and transformation as well as inclusion, social justice, and sustainable peace.Young people’s leadership and roles in preventing and resolving conflict, violence and extremism are rich resources essential to achieving sustainable peace. Young people are agents of change, and their contributions should be actively supported, solicited and regarded as essential to building peaceful communities and supporting democratic governance and transition”, the statement reads.
In celebrating the International Youth Day, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) recognizes that in order for Nigeria to succeed in achieving the sustainable peace, governments must seek out an active and substantive engagement of young women and men from diverse backgrounds in inclusive decision making and participation in democracy as a means of building peace.
While commending the passage of the constitutional amendments by the National Assembly in Nigeria to reduce the age for contesting elections, YIAGA joins her voice to the demands of young people in Nigeria to increase commitment and investment and also Increase youth participation and partnerships in peace-building.
