The aim of this Youth-Inclusive Guide to Peace Mediation is to advance the integration of the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda into peacebuilding processes led and supported by the European Union (EU), and specifically in peace mediation. It builds on the premise that mediation processes that systematically include young people are more likely to generate: a better understanding of the root causes of conflicts, broader national ownership, greater legitimacy, and improved prospects of more sustainable peace.
The guide outlines:
- Relevant normative and operational frameworks;
- Youth-inclusive strategies for the preparation, process design, implementation, and monitoring of peace mediation efforts;
- Pathways for leveraging EU capacities and partnerships in support of youth-inclusive mediation;
- Four examples of youth inclusion in peace and mediation processes.
In this, the guide serves as a useful resource to EU decision-makers, experts, and practitioners involved in framing, accompanying, and implementing EU mediation support efforts. The guide can also be of interest to other stakeholders that are focused on EU policy on inclusive peacebuilding and peace mediation, such as peacebuilding civil society organisations and youth-led groups, as well as other national, regional, and international institutions supporting mediation efforts.