To provide the requested feedback for the UN , LPI began an institutional reflection process with LPI staff and personnel from the PDC in Ethiopia , and most importantly with young people from Ethiopia , Kenya , and Sudan who had themselves participated in Sustained Dialogue projects in the region , to ensure that “ recommendations reflect the views , needs , and specific experiences of youth , rather than speaking on their behalf ” ( LPI , 2017 , p . 6 ). Based on this reflection process of 20,000 hours of youth dialogues in HOA , participants and staff had the following four insights to share with the international community . These main insights from LPI include :
“ 1 . Youth are not a homogeneous group : It should be recognised that youth are as diverse and divided as the rest of the population , and in conflict-affected and fragile settings will be subject to the same social , economic , and identity-based fractures that characterise the broader context .
2 . The notion that there are ‘ youth issues ’ is misleading and unhelpful : Young people are able to speak to the pressing issues of conflict , governance , justice and development that affect their countries , beyond areas traditionally considered youth-specific , such as education , employment , drug and alcohol use .
3 . Youth are the present as well as the future . Youth are leaders now , not just for tomorrow , and their existing knowledge and capacity should be leveraged to deal with ongoing peace and security challenges .
4 . Youth need an enabling environment : Young people require safe space for engagement and exploration , and to build their confidence , in order to develop common agendas and have their voices heard .” ( LPI , 2017 , p . 12 ).
Recommendations :
1 . The international community , including the United Nations and member states , should consult with young women and men on all matters that concern them , including them in peace processes and policy discussions . The Life & Peace Institute ’ s Submission to the Progress Study on UNSCR 2250 includes a series of recommendations addressing YPS pillars of participation and prevention , including the following :
� “ Develop proactive , forward-looking youth policies that seek to seize upon and catalyze young people ’ s present , positive leadership for peace rather than seeking to contain them .”
� “ Provide funds specifically oriented towards allowing diverse youth to scale up innovative , effective and sustainable forms of engagement in building peace and security ” ( LPI , 2017 , p . 20 , 18 ). ( See LPI ’ s September 2017 report “ Being and Becoming a Peacebuilder ’: Insights from 20,000 Hours of Youth-Led Dialogues in the Horn of Africa ” for more recommendations .)
2 . Stakeholders in communities with inter-group tension should consider using Sustained Dialogue methodology as a way to build bridges across divides , promote trust and improved relationships , and take action steps to address community issues and challenges .
Implications :
Inclusion of more stakeholders ( whether people of different ages , genders , abilities , ethnicities , religions , socio-economic backgrounds , or urban / rural geographies ) leads to more sustainable peace . The more that youth are fully included in building peace , the more likely that peace can be sustainable .
If adversarial relationships are improved through methods such as Sustained Dialogue , then adversarial groups may be more likely to implement shared projects which can transform hostility , antagonism , and violence into constructive / positive community peace .
Table of Contents | Quick Look | Contact PKSOI 29