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United Nations Security Council resolution 2250
In December 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250), the first-ever thematic resolution on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS).
This historic document brought recognition and legitimacy to youth’s efforts in building peace, and continues to serve as a powerful advocacy tool. UNSCR 2419, UNSCR 2535, and UNSCR 2807, adopted in 2018, 2020 and 2025, reaffirm the Security Council’s commitment to the YPS Agenda and highlight the essential role of young people in conflict prevention and resolution. As of 2026, the UN Secretary-General has presented three biennial progress reports (2020, 2022 and 2024) on YPS and the implementation of the resolutions.
UNOY celebrating the moment UNSCR 2250 was adopted, December 2015:
5 pillars of YPS
The YPS Agenda is structured around five pillars, Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnership and Disengagement & Reintegration, which inform UNOY’s annual and five year strategies. UNOY implements the five pillars through the following approaches:
Participation
To ensure that young peacebuilders participate meaningfully in the various YPS spaces and conversations, UNOY continues to represent a youth voice and influence policy decisions. This is done:
- At global level, through platforms such as Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, the Civil Society Working Group on YPS. UNOY also influences at UN level, working with Member States through the YPS Group of Champions and participating at high level forums;
- At regional and national levels, by advocating for the adoption of YPS frameworks and the implementation of YPS commitments. Our regional Youth Advocacy Teams and working groups lead this work. UNOY also engages with regional stakeholders including the EU and the AU to amplify young people’s role in regional and cross-regional peacebuilding.
Protection
UNOY works to ensure that young peacebuilders, as subjects of threats and violence, have their right to civic and political engagement protected. We do so by:
- Directly supporting members facing protection crises through our emergency response mechanism;
- Amplifying young peacebuilders’ experiences and advocating for the implementation of protections for young people at global, regional and national levels;
- Developing and sharing tools for young peacebuilders that enhance their safety in their work, with a focus on protecting their mental health and well-being.
Partnership
To ensure that young peacebuilders are actively included in YPS conversations and have access to strategic partnerships, UNOY:
- Engages with and promotes intergenerational collaborations for inclusive change;
- Facilitates partnerships with stakeholders committed to adequate resourcing of young peacebuilders in order to provide them with skills, knowledge, and funds to carry out their crucial work;
- Cultivates inter-network partnership through peer-learning, knowledge exchange, joint advocacy and cross-regional activities.
Prevention
To continue to build conditions for sustainable peaceful societies which prevent outbreaks of violences, UNOY:
- Fosters a culture of preventive protection measures across the network, integrating them into planning and programming;
- Creates spaces for open dialogue and inter-cultural learning within our network, while advocating for safe civic space in wider global societies.
Disengagement and Reintegration
The on-the-ground presence and deep understanding of local contexts enable young peacebuilders to serve as an essential link between disengaging youth and the community. UNOY:
- Supports members who play a crucial role in helping their peers leave violent groups and reintegrate, strengthening their capacity to implement activities which facilitate these processes.
Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security
The Global Coalition on YPS is the leading platform for shaping global policy and practice on YPS. As co-chairs alongside Search for Common Ground and UNFPA, we lead a diverse coalition of organisations, including youth-led and youth-focused organisations, from civil society, UN entities, donors, academia and inter-governmental bodies.
The coalition's primary goal is to amplify the role of young people in shaping policies and practices in the world of peacebuilding and has achieved significant milestones, notably contributing to the historic adoption of UNSC 2250. The coalition also operates through specialised working groups and task forces, dedicated to addressing various aspects of the YPS Agenda.
GCYPS Retreat in Senegal, July 2023:
The Civil Society Working group on YPS
In 2021, UNOY and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders launched the Civil Society Working Group on YPS, bringing together youth-led networks and civil society organisations to advocate for the youth-led and effective implementation of the YPS agenda in the United Nations system, particularly at the Security Council, which remains not easily accessible for young peacebuilders. Through sustained engagement, this group ensures that the youth participates meaningfully, and that their voices are integrated into decision-making processes on peace and security at the Security Council and with Member States.
UNOY attending the CSO-UN Diologue, December 2024:
