22 August 2015: The Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security concluded with the adoption of the ‘Amman Youth Declaration,’ presenting a common vision and roadmap for the international community’s engagement with young people to counter violent extremism and build lasting peace. The Global Forum was organized following an April 2015 thematic debate organized by Jordan during its presidency of the UN Security Council, which aimed to step up global attention to the potential contribution of youth to the global peace agenda.
Over 11,000 youth participated in the Global Forum, which took place from 21-22 August 2015, in Amman, Jordan. The event was hosted by Jordan and co-organized by the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD), the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Peacebuilding Support Office, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Search for Common Ground and the United Network of Young Peacebuilders.
Young people, youth-led organizations, NGOs, governments and UN entities attended the Global Forum and cooperated to draft the Amman Youth Declaration. The Declaration highlights four areas for the UN System and governments to engage with youth on peace and security: ensuring youth participation and leadership in public decision making on peace and security; recognizing and supporting the role of youth networks, organizations and individuals in preventing violence and promoting peace; protecting the rights of girls and women, and preventing gender violence; and prioritizing youth employment and inclusive labor policies.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a message delivered by Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), stated that participants at the Global Forum are part of the largest generation of youth in history. He referred to them as “the SDG generation,” noting that their meeting was taking place at a “once-in-a-generation moment” as world leaders prepare to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He drew attention to the UN’s launch of ‘Guiding Principles on Young People’s Participation in Peacebuilding,’ and the development of a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. [Amman Youth Declaration] [UN Secretary-General’s Statement] [Global Forum Website] [Global Forum Agenda]