What do the recent mass protests in Kenya, Nepal and Morocco have in common? All have been dubbed 'Gen Z' protests - a reference to the generation born in the late 1990s and early 2000s - as they have seen a mass mobilisation of young people on the streets. Young people around the world are demanding their right to be involved in decisions that affect their present and their future.
The meaningful involvement of young people is crucial for sustainable peace for all. This is why the United Nations (UN) launched the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda in 2015. In the latest issue of BKHS Perspectives, Kirsten Hartmann, BKHS expert on European and international policy, argues that Germany should step up its efforts to implement the YPS agenda both internationally and nationally. She outlines specific recommendations on how German decision-makers can support YPS initiatives at UN and EU level, in bilateral cooperation with partner countries and in Germany itself.
"Germany must also implement the YPS agenda at national level: This is not only crucial for the credibility of German support for young people worldwide, but also for tackling domestic challenges to peace and security." - Kirsten Hartmann
Key findings and recommendations:
- Youth as peace actors:
Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but are already actively shaping change today. The UN YPS agenda recognises their important contribution to peace and security and calls for their meaningful involvement as partners for peace. - Universal relevance:
Germany should strengthen the implementation of the YPS agenda internationally and at the same time recognise its relevance at home in order to address current security crises such as increasing mistrust of institutions and social polarisation. Credible support for YPS abroad requires strong national implementation. - Cross-generational agenda:
The YPS agenda addresses intergenerational challenges, benefits society as a whole and must be implemented in genuine intergenerational partnerships. - YPS through Germany - foreign policy:
Germany should actively promote YPS in the UN, including in the UN Peacebuilding Commission and as part of its candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council in 2027/28. In addition, Germany should support a coordinated Team Europe approach to integrate YPS into EU foreign and domestic policy and strengthen YPS in development cooperation. YPS made in Germany - national implementation:
YPS should be implemented through a cross-departmental approach together with diverse young people. The agenda should be embedded in existing strategies, such as the Youth Strategy and the National Security Strategy. German civil society should actively support YPS and build bridges between youth, peace and security actors.
This policy paper is based on research in the BKHS project "Gen P(eacebuilder) - Implementing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda".
Further information on the project can be found here.