July 2019 Monthly Forecast

Posted 28 June 2019
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Youth, Peace and Security

Expected Council Action

In July, the Security Council expects a briefing on the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda. Jayathma Wickramanayake, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, is likely to brief the Council.

Key Recent Developments

The Council first addressed the issue of youth, peace and security at the initiative of Jordan during the country’s April 2015 presidency when it organised an open debate on the “role of youth in countering violent extremism and promoting peace”. On 9 December that year the Council adopted resolution 2250 that mandated a progress study on youth, peace and security. The study in turn served as the basis for the second resolution on the issue, resolution 2419, adopted unanimously on 6 June 2018. This adoption was also preceded by an open debate, convened during the first Peruvian Council presidency in April 2018. Peru and Sweden were the co-penholders for resolution 2419. It recognised the role youth can play in conflict prevention and requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of both resolutions no later than May 2020. While the resolution, like its 2015 predecessor, was adopted unanimously, negotiations appeared to have been difficult, with members divided on the usefulness of having youth, peace and security on the Council’s agenda.

Key Issues and Options

An option for briefers and Council members may be to focus their statements on the implementation of resolutions 2250 and 2419. Issues that could be addressed include whether the Council has considered youth perspectives during its visiting missions, whether the Peacebuilding Commission has included engagement with youth in its efforts, whether the Secretary-General and his Special Envoys have facilitated the inclusion of youth at decision-making levels, and whether the Secretary-General has included information on youth, peace and security in his reporting to the Council. Ahead of the elaboration of the 2020 Secretary-General’s report, members could speak about ways they implement the agenda and how young peacebuilders can be protected, as well as what partnerships with them could be formed.

Resolution 2419 expressed the Council’s intention to invite youth representatives to brief during meetings. Accordingly, in addition to the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, such a briefer from civil society might be appropriate.

Council Dynamics

Council members have differing views on youth, peace and security as an area of Council focus. During the negotiations on resolution 2419, it seemed that mainly China and Russia argued that the matter should be dealt with by other parts of the UN system, saying that it is not directly relevant to the agenda of the Council. At the other end of the spectrum, it seemed that other members would have preferred even stronger language about the positive role youth can play on peace and security matters.

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UN DOCUMENTS ON YOUTH, PEACE AND SECURITY

Security Council Resolutions
6 June 2018S/RES/2419 This was a resolution, unanimously adopted, reaffirming the important role that youth and youth-led civil society can play in peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
9 December 2015S/RES/2250 This was a resolution on youth, peace and security which recognises the contribution of youth in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and warns against the rise of radicalisation to violence and violent extremism amongst youth.
Security Council Meeting Records
6 June 2018S/PV.8277 This was the meeting at which the Council adopted resolution 2419, reaffirming the important role that youth and youth-led civil society can play in peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
23 April 2018S/PV.8241 This was an open debate on youth, peace and security.
9 December 2015S/PV.7573 This was the adoption of resolution 2250.
23 April 2015S/PV.7432 This was a high-level open debate on “the role of youth in countering violent extremism and promoting peace,” chaired by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdulla II of Jordan.
Other
2 March 2018S/2018/86 This was the progress study on youth, peace and security.

 

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