Advocacy

At the heart of UNOY's advocacy mission is a commitment to reshaping power structures that marginalise young voices in decision-making spaces.

Through global, regional, and national advocacy, UNOY supports its network members in challenging the reductionist narrative surrounding young people’s role in peace processes. Despite progress, many stakeholders in peace and security continue to design programs and funding strategies that portray youth primarily as either victims or perpetrators of violence in armed conflicts.

UNOY’s advocacy strives to dismantle these limiting narratives and uneven power dynamics, highlighting the significance of young peacebuilders' contributions, their ongoing leadership and ensuring meaningful youth participation.

A key way we advance the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda is through our advocacy teams, which work to promote meaningful youth engagement in policy and practice at all decision-making levels.

In addition to regional advocacy teams, we advance policy and practice by working directly with the UN, the Group of YPS Champions, and other allies—participating in policy processes, organizing in-person and online events, and delivering trainings on meaningful youth engagement for non-youth stakeholders.

UNOY also co-chairs the Global Coalition on YPS, the leading platform for shaping global YPS policy and practice.

1993
Shift to youth-led peacebuilding

UNOY’s focus shifts to youth-led peacebuilding after hosting the International Conference of Young Peacebuilders at The Peace Palace, The Hague.
2005
First Youth Advocacy Team

Formation of the Youth Advocacy Team in collaboration with partners to promote a culture of peace at the UN and across regional, national, and local levels.
2005
World Civic Society Youth Report

Contributed to drafting the World Civic Society Youth Report on a Culture of Peace.
2006
Agreed Language on Youth, Peace and Security

Co-authored the Agreed Language on Youth, Peace and Security report.
2011
Consultation on the Right to Peace

Participated in a closed consultation on the Right to Peace, Geneva, Switzerland.
2012
Creation of the Global Youth Advocacy Team

Creation of the Global Youth Advocacy Team.

Photo: Youth Advocacy Team in 2015
2013
22nd session of the Human Rights Council

Co-organized and spoke at the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council side event 20 Years of Human Rights Education: Building a Culture of Human Rights.
2014
Attended global events

Attended and spoke at the First Global Forum on Youth Policy, as well as the World Conference on Youth in Sri Lanka to promote youth participation and inclusion in peace processes.
2015
Co-organised the Amman Forum

Co-organised the Amman Forum in August 2015, bringing together 500 participants to engage in meaningful intergenerational dialogue and cooperation to prevent and resolve violence, extremism and conflict.
2015
Advocacy for UNSCR 2250

The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2250 on YPS and UNOY became co-chair of the Global Coalition on YPS.
2018
European Partnership on Youth and Peacebuilding

The European Partnership on Youth and Peacebuilding, a coalition of Europe-based peacebuilding organizations and experts, was launched with a Civil Society Statement endorsing the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda.
2018
Launch of the African Youth Advocacy Team

Launch of the African Youth Advocacy Team, a group of young peacebuilders from across Africa, working to promote meaningful youth engagement in policy and practice, at all levels of decision-making.
2019
UNOY members established Nigeria Coalition

UNOY members established the Nigeria Coalition on YPS and supported the development of a National Action Plan on YPS.
2020
Launched a network of young researchers

Launched a network of young researchers to increase youth-led evidence and the link between research and advocacy. Two editions of the Journal of Youth, Peace and Security were published in 2021 and 2023.
2021
Launched the ALLY research paper

Launched the ALLY research paper: the first comprehensive analysis of youth-led peacebuilding in the South Asia region. Read it here.
2022
Climate Working Group

Co-founded the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security Working Group on Climate.
2023
Community of Practice on YPS

UNOY together with Search for Common Ground launched the Community of Practice on Youth, Peace and Security.
2023
GCYPS Annual Retreat

Co-organised and attended the GCYPS Annual Retreat meeting in Saly, Senegal.
2024
Americas Youth Advocacy Team

A Youth Advocacy Team was launched in the Americas, holding a Summit in July to strategise advancement of the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda.
2024
CSO-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding

UNOY members attended the Civil Society Organization-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding at UN Headquarters, as well as a youth consultation to inform the Peacebuilding Architecture Review process, organised by UNFPA.
2025
4th International Forum Financing for Development

UNOY attended the 4th International Forum on Financing for Development in Seville, a UN led conference which focused on reforming the international financial architecture, and mobilising resources for sustainable development. UNOY co-organised a side event for FdD4 which highlighted the need for flexible and sustainable financing models for youth-led peace.
2025
Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR)

Continued engagement with the UN PBAR included co-organising a consultation with young peacebuilders and civil society organisations to develop key recommendations and present these to Member States. UNOY also took part in the Civil Society Dialogue Network organised by European Peacebuilding Liason Office to contribute to EU recommendations for PBAR.