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Press conference on youth, peace and security

On December 29 2015, APT in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs held a press conference at the Government Media and Information Center calling on government to take action on the Resolution 2250 and recognize the role of youth in peace and security in Afghanistan. Nearly 40 male and female participants including local media attended and gave the event coverage. Mr. Kamal Sadaat, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs of the Afghan Government and Ali Fayez from APT along with other youth activists spoke as panelists. Ali of APT stated that “UN 2250 Resolution” shows a fundamental change in views of International Players towards youth positive role in peace and security. He further added, “lack of social consensus for peacebuilding in society has been the main reason behind infectiveness of political efforts in peace and security. We believe that peace and security is a social agreement before being a political one. If there is an agreement on a social level it will automatically lead to political agreement in this regard.” Likewise, Kamal Saadat shared his views on the resolution and he stated that all sectors of Afghanistan Government are committed to implement the resolution and work for the Afghan youth. Mr. Sadat also called on UN member states to help Afghan youth in order to secure a more effective role in their society. “The international community should consider financial support to Afghan youth in order to help them improve their lives and education,” he said. The program continued with a press release calling on the Afghan government and relevant international agencies to consider the following demands:

1. Afghan government should implement the SCR2250;
2. The role of youth has been sidelined by government and is not prioritized. Afghan Government should structurally provide space for Afghan youth to be present at policy and decision making levels;
3. Afghan youth have been one of the recruiting sources for the insurgent groups. Afghan government should seriously and urgently take steps to prevent this, by finding ways to counter extremism and radicalization of Afghan youth.
4. Afghan government should recognize the role of youth in peace building and security, and Afghan youth should be included in peace talks.
5. International agencies should empower Afghan youth-led organizations by providing them funds and technical support.