LocationsSome seventy representatives of young people, youth councils, organizations, as well as representatives of local and central authorities and of the UN family are in Ohrid, exchanging best practices for accelerating the YPS and WPS agendas.
When given a chance, young people can lead and reenergize their communities towards a more peaceful, prosperous, equal and greener future for all. This was the conclusion of the discussions on the first of the two-day regional conference “Pathways to Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS): Regional Perspectives, Experiences & Knowledge”, that is being held in Ohrid (8-9 April 2025).
“The local youth councils, for example, are a great tool for implementation of Youth, peace and security agenda on local level. They are a form of collaboration between young people and local decision makers and they enhance youth participation. Local youth councils can channel young peoples’ ideas and contribute to having more youth-friendly policies”, said Igor Josifoski, President of the Ohrid Youth Council.
This conference marks the beginning of a second phase of the regional joint UN project “Youth for Inclusion, Equality, and Trust”, which focuses on empowering young people to drive positive change and foster social cohesion in the societies and communities in which they live throughout the region.
“Young people and women are indispensable pillars of positive change in modern society, and as a Government we are deeply committed to their active inclusion in processes of peace and security”, says Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy Demography and Youth. “Through the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 and the Action Plan 2023–2025, North Macedonia has established solid foundations for integrating young people into all aspects of societal life, with special emphasis on their role in building peace and stability. We continue our intensive cooperation with international partners to achieve global goals for peace, security, and equality.”
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda and the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security agenda — key milestones in advancing inclusive peacebuilding and sustainable development. The goal of the conference is to facilitate a cross-regional exchange of best practices, experiences, and knowledge on YPS/WPS agenda implementation.
“We simply cannot talk about prosperity, equality, inclusion and trust, unless every young person and every woman are given equal opportunities to reach their full potential”, says Rita Columbia, UN resident Coordinator. “When given a chance, young people can contribute to lead the way forward. Therefore, it is critical to empower them to drive a local response, rebuilding and re-energizing their communities and countries for sustainable development.”
For Afrodita Shalja, Head of Office at UNFPA, the region faces dynamic demographic changes, including lower fertility rates, increased youth immigration and an aging population.
“These demographic challenges require multisectoral cooperation, ensuring financial and economic stability, and promoting peace, cooperation, and political stability. As a key partner for young people in the region, UNFPA supports the development of policies, joint initiatives, peacebuilding, combating hate speech, promoting accountability, the rule of law, and empowering young people to stand up against violence”, Shalja said.
Anna Chernyshova, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, believes that the key to overcoming challenges facing young people in the region is to invest in education and social cohesion, while also building trust in institutions.
“Regional gatherings are a good platform for exchanging best practices, experiences, and knowledge. We will be happy to draw constructive conclusions that will also influence policies in the region”, Chernyshova said. “Today we are gathered on the Youth and Women Piece and Security, a subject on which UNDP is actively working through various actions, especially focused on disaster risk reduction and gender. Important examples are the support for the creation of the Youth National Strategy 2023-2027, youth empowerment through the Self-Employment program and the Youth Guarantee program, focusing on youth that are part of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).“
Another goal of the conference “Pathways to Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security: Regional Perspectives, Experiences & Knowledge” is to serve as a platform for strategic coordination. In addition to young people, the conference gathers representatives from the UN family as well as from other donors and international organizations.
On the joint UN project “Youth for Inclusion, Equality, and Trust”, collaboratively, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UN Women and relevant partners from the public sector, media, civil society, academia and culture are working together with youth to increase comprehension and respect for diversity in the region, financially supported by the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund.
