THE YOUTH, PEACE AND SECURITY ACT

THE YPS BILL

The world is experiencing a 30-year high in violent conflict. Battle deaths worldwide have increased by 340 percent in the last 10 years. Nearly 70 million people are refugees, 90 percent of whom are fleeing violence, war, and persecution.

Young people represent the world’s brightest hope to reverse these trendlines. In 2014, the global population between 15 and 29 years old rose to 1.8 billion. Policymakers often see young people as either risks to contain or vulnerable populations to protect. In fact, many young people are actively working for peace and security in their communities, as documented in the 2018 global study The Missing Peace.

The Youth, Peace and Security Act of 2020 would adapt U.S. foreign policy to an age of emergent youth power. The bill establishes an inter-agency strategy on Youth, Peace and Security; requires an inter-agency strategy; and mandates training for Foreign Service Officers, among other provisions.

WHY YOUTH

Globally, 1.4 billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected states. Half of them are younger than 20.

Too often, the burden of violence falls on youth. One out of every 50 young people living in a low-income country will be killed before the age of 31. Wars involve entire generations—limiting job opportunities, fueling extremism, and causing huge suffering.

At the same time, young people are some of the most determined advocates for peace. In Somalia, between 2011 and 2017, USAID-funded programs on youth peacebuilding halved the willingness of survey participants to support or participate in political violence. In Burundi, solidarity events between youth and police officers shifted a violent dynamic, with over 88 percent of police reporting collaboration that endured after the end of the program in 2017.

Young people make such huge gains despite funding, policy, and cultural obstacles. In one-third of countries, people younger than 25 are not eligible to hold roles in national government. Around the world, 49 percent of youth-led organizations operate on under $5,000 per year, with 97 percent of staff serving as volunteers.

The world faces enormous challenges, but across history, brave young leaders have proven up to the task. The YPS Act marks an important next step.

We are proud to co-chair the U.S. YPS Coalition with the Alliance for Peacebuilding, with special support from UNOY, +Peace, Peace Direct, Generations for Peace, STAND, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation. The Coalition consists of 50+ organizations from the humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development fields dedicated to advancing the non-partisan H.R. 6174, the Youth, Peace and Security Act, and global YPS agenda.

The Coalition actively educates and engages the U.S. Congress on the importance of youth peacebuilding to U.S. global security efforts. Comprising youth leaders, the Coalition connects young people around the world and provides a platform for youth, USG, donors, programmers, and policy makers to engage for the advancement and implementation of global YPS policy frameworks.