Statement by UN Women Executive Director on the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security

UN Women welcomes the historic adoption of the first Security Council resolution on youth, peace and security. The resolution, spearheaded by Jordan, and adopted unanimously by Council members on 9 December, recognizes for the first time that youth’s vulnerabilities and experiences of conflict must be differentiated, as must the contribution of both young men and women to lasting peace and security, in particular through the prevention of conflict and sustainable peacebuilding. This is an essential recognition in the current complex and challenging environment, where groups are targeting both young women and young men for forcible recruitment, radicalization and implementation of divisive agendas.

Evidence shows that gender-equal societies are more resilient to conflict, and less at risk of violent extremism. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security has been demonstrating this since its adoption 15 years ago, re-enforced by others in the series, with the latest being (2242) adopted this year. The new resolution on youth, peace and security explicitly links to this important series of resolutions, re-emphasizing the pivotal role women must play in conflict management, conflict resolution, and sustainable peace.

While adoption of Security Council Resolution 2250 is an important first step, these intentions must now translate into action. There are three factors that will be especially critical to its successful implementation. The first is leadership. Young women and men across the world doing critical work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding must be strongly supported by concomitant leadership from Member States and the United Nations. The second is capacities. We must ensure that young people receive strong support to be peace actors themselves, that equality and inclusivity is fostered and that both state and non-state actors in parallel are enabled to support the advancement of the agenda. The third is financing. Investment in young women and men who work for peace is an investment in a peaceful and secure future for all.

As a member of the UN Inter-agency Network on Youth Development’s working group on youth and peacebuilding, UN Women looks forward to fully supporting the youth, peace and security agenda in all areas of our work and influence. We will also build on its synergies and close linkages with the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

In line with our evolving youth and gender equality strategy, and its associated LEAPs framework for empowering young women, UN Women calls on young women and young men to Step-it Up for gender equality and women's empowerment and for peace. Youth’s energy, knowledge, skills and leadership as change makers and accelerators, together with the strengthened economic empowerment, participation, leadership and voice of women in all spheres - in partnership with young men – represent the future in which everyone's potentials can be realized free from fear and violence. This is the opportunity that resolution 2250 brings for transformative impact on the Security Council’s work, as well as on peace and security efforts globally.