On January 26, 2026, policymakers, faith-based actors, and youth leaders gathered at the Baha’i International Community for a hybrid ECOSOC Partnership Forum side event focused on operationalizing the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. Organized by a coalition including the IAYSP, Jssor Youth Organization, the SDG16 Global Youth Caucus of the Major Group for Children and Youth, and UNDP, the session addressed the persistent “participation gap” that often leaves youth in consultative roles rather than as active partners. Participants highlighted the urgent need to move beyond tokenistic engagement and recognize informal, values-based youth networks as legitimate “social infrastructure” essential for peace. Discussions emphasized that despite high-level political commitments, youth initiatives continue to face critical barriers regarding funding, sustainability, and access to decision-making platforms. To solve this, the forum recommended that National Action Plans formally recognize community networks as implementing partners and that donors shift toward flexible, multi-year financing. The event concluded with a call to institutionalize intergenerational co-leadership, embedding youth with actual decision-making authority alongside experienced elders to strengthen localized peacebuilding strategies. This event served as an informal consultation for the ECOSOC Youth Forum co-organized by the Major Group for Children and Youth.
On January 26, 2026, policymakers, faith-based actors, and youth leaders gathered at the Baha’i International Community for a hybrid ECOSOC...
