REMARKS OF H.E. MR. NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER
High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
UNSC Open Debate on Youth, Peace, and Security
Security Council Chamber
New York, 23 April 2018 10:00-13:00

Your Excellency,
Ambassador Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations,
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

UNAOC is honoured to be a member of the Steering Committee for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security mandated by Security Council resolution 2250.

I commend the work of Mr. Graeme Simpson and the Advisory Group of Experts, including the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. In preparation for this Study, they turned words into deeds through inclusive and informed consultations with over 4000 young people from a diverse set of countries and regions.

Empowering youth lies at the heart of international peace and security.

UNAOC has long recognized the important and positive contribution of youth and youth-led organizations in conflict prevention and peace-building efforts.

Allow me to use this opportunity to tell you very briefly about 3 of our initiatives that feeds into this vein.

First, our Young Peacebuilders programme: this peace education programme supports youth leaders and their organizations in gaining skills that enhance their positive role in peace and security issues.

It also brings visibility to projects initiated by young people towards peace and the promotion of human rights and cultural diversity. Last year it took place in West Africa. This year, we implemented the programme in the MENA region.

Second, our Youth Solidarity Fund: This programme provides youth-led organizations with seed funding and capacity building to implement innovative and effective projects in the context of intercultural and interfaith dialogue. We have funded projects in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, in areas affected by inter-ethnic tensions, conflicts and violent extremism. Over 700 applications from 79 countries were received for the 2018 edition of YSF.

Third, through our Fellowship programme, we provide a platform for young civil society leaders from the Middle East, Europe and North America to experience immersive visits in each other’s regions.

The theme of this year’s programme is on the role of young people in preventing violent extremism and peacebuilding. We have received applications from hundreds of motivated youth. As in previous years, their experiences and expertise are remarkable.

Recognizing the role of new technology and digital platforms in disseminating information and as part of our Media and Information Literacy initiatives, UNAOC has developed PEACE App, a series of workshop aiming at the use of apps, and video-gaming platforms as strategic ways of building peaceful understanding among individuals from different cultural and religious backgrounds.²

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

The Alliance remains committed to working with Member States, members of the Steering Committee, and all other partners and stakeholders to provide young people with platforms and opportunities to achieve sustainable peace and security.

I thank you.