Centering youth in decision-making and peacebuilding, necessary: PGA

The centering youth in decision-making, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding is a necessity, says Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said this in his remarks at the Conference on “Palestinian Youth in East Jerusalem under Occupation”, organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with the support of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, hosted on Wednesday.

Highlighting that solution-oriented dialogue is crucial to advance the issue, PGA Shahid noted that the discussion was important for many reasons, including the fact that the Middle East and specifically the Israel-Palestinian conflict, has been a “pivotal” item on the UN’s agenda since the organization was incepted.  

He also added that the theme of the discussion aligns with his belief in the necessity of centering youth in decision-making, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding which the PGA described to be a pillar of his presidential agenda. 

The PGA also stressed that little tangible progress has been made despite the long-drawn period of time the UN and the rest of the world has spent on the issue.

With this, he noted that the situation only seems to have worsened with time which in turn enabled the conflict’s infiltration into the minds and lives of new generations. 

Shahid, who also serves as the Foreign Minister of Maldives, revealed that a two-state solution, as outlined in Resolution 181, remains the only premise for a “just”, “lasting” and “comprehensive” conciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, to bring “peace”, “security”, “mutual recognition”, and “prosperity” to all.  

Highlighting the critical role young people play in the efforts to broker peace in the region, the PGA stated that the conflict has torn families, friends and communities apart as well as upending the rights of young people, to a “peaceful” future built on “solid” foundations. 

As such, PGA Shahid noted that the youth community “must” be a part of the solution and need to not only be given a seat at the table, but to be centered. 

PGA Shahid stated that offering them the opportunity to build and shape solutions to the issue is the “only” viable path towards sustainable peace and reconciliation, adding that youth are the ones mobilizing and revitalizing the global movement for the rights of Palestinians.

He stressed that their “tireless” and “peaceful” endeavors cannot be ignored.   

The PGA went on to urge the global communities to make an effort to come together to resolve international disputes in line with the founding vision of the UN, adding that the global communities should keep in mind that youth are agents of “change” and that their inclusion in the peace and security agenda is “key” to sustainable peacebuilding.