YPS Resolutions: From Paper to Reality
Written by Khaled Emam, Human Rights Lawyer and Executive Manager of Justice Call for Rights and Development (Egypt), GPPAC YPS Working Group Member, inspired by an online discussion organised by UNOY Peacebuilders
The new UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2535 on YPS was hugely satisfying for me, as it highlights the most important challenges facing young peacebuilders and human rights defenders. Particularly in the Arab region, there are issues in terms of civil spaces, the protection of civil society organizations, and their relationship to peacebuilding. This was confirmed by the resolution, which also identifies human rights violations as a challenge to youth participation in peacebuilding. It stresses the need to hold perpetrators of grave human rights violations against civilian youth accountable. As a first step, this recognition is a huge success for all the young people building peace, often risking their own personal security to do so.
“What change do you think UNSCR 2535 will bring around the world? The change I hope to see is the protection of young peacebuilders and human rights defenders around the world. Youth should lead the implementation of this agenda, and make countries accountable!”
The online discussion organized by UNOY gave me renewed impetus to continue working around this agenda, as understood from the title: ‘From Paper to Reality’. The existence of the resolution itself is important, however, the most crucial factor is to implement it and not to make it a mere ink-on-the-paper scenario, as has been the case for many relevant international conventions. The discussion also included a historical account of the three most important decisions related to youth, peace and security, and an open conversation that was very insightful. UN representatives from the Dominican Republic and France (co-sponsors of UNSCR 2535) shared key priorities for the implementation of the new resolution, as well as an action plan for the way forward, suggesting to the international community that young people are monitoring the implementation process and that this matter requires practical and effective steps from all stakeholders. One of the representatives from a signatory country said: “With UNSCR 2535 we tried to create the framework, to have on paper the highest standard we could have. The most important part is the implementation. With all the engagement around the agenda, we are scrutinised and we need to keep what we promised on the resolution”.
In my opinion, the priority now should be the protection of young peacebuilders and youth-led organizations to allow them to continue their work towards creating peaceful and just societies. The new resolution and the full YPS agenda cannot be achieved without their efforts and work. Civil society organizations, especially those led by young people, fulfil an important role in promoting human rights on the ground. Therefore, they must be protected and supported by all means possible. This can be achieved through:
- Building partnerships around the implementation of the YPS agenda;
- Linking and coordinating with mechanisms related to the protection of human rights defenders and civil society organizations;
- Localizing the YPS agenda and including it in national laws.
*This piece was inspired by an online discussion on ‘Youth Peace & Security (YPS) Resolutions: From Paper to Reality’, which was organised by the UNOY Peacebuilders for young peacebuilders and YPS organisations to discuss the progress made, gaps in policy-making and implementation, and challenges causing this gap. In total 93 people joined the discussion, including from the UN, international NGOs, and young people worldwide.