The Canadian Coalition for Youth, Peace & Security (CCYPS) is a proud member of the inaugural Americas Youth Advocacy Team (Am-YAT), an initiative of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY). Launched earlier this year, the Am-YAT serves as a dynamic platform for collaboration among youth-led civil society organizations across the Americas, aimed at advancing the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda at a regional level.
A Gathering of Youth Peacebuilders
From August 14-16, 2024, youth peacebuilders from across the Americas convened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the first-ever Am-YAT Summit. The Americas Youth Peace Summit represented a significant milestone in the regional effort to enhance youth participation in peacebuilding processes, recognizing the need for continental coordination.
The agenda was packed with interactive workshops, collaborative discussions, and strategic sessions that allowed Am-YAT members to delve into the YPS landscape in the Americas. Topics ranged from conflict prevention to social inclusion, with a strong emphasis on the critical role that youth must play in shaping sustainable peace policies at a national level.
Katrina Leclerc, our Government Advocacy Chair, represented the CCYPS at the Summit. Katrina showcased CCYPS priorities focused on the thematic intersections of the YPS agenda. Her contributions focused on the interconnectedness of key themes such as gender equality and LGBTQI+ representation and their collective impact on building sustainable peace.
Moving Forward with Purpose
The Am-YAT Summit was a platform for dialogue and a springboard for action. Members of the Am-YAT committed to several initiatives designed to push the YPS agenda forward:
Regional Advocacy Campaigns: Aimed at promoting the inclusion of youth in peace processes across the Americas.
Strengthening Partnerships: Collaborating with international organizations to amplify the voices of young peacebuilders.
Knowledge Sharing: Creating and sharing multilingual resources for YPS-related information to support youth organizations in the region.
The Summit concluded with a collective declaration of unity and commitment to advancing the YPS agenda. While this is but a first step for policy-oriented advocacy on YPS in the region, Am-YAT members leave Buenos Aires with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to carry the momentum forward across the continent.
The CCYPS wishes to express its thanks to the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) and the Organización Argentina de Jóvenes para las Naciones Unidas (OAJNU) for their coordination, as well as the European Commission and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for their financial support.
Comentários