Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security - Jordan
In a speech before the United Nations Security Council in May 2015, His Royal Highness Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II called for hosting a forum in Jordan. A year later, in May 2016, this call brought together around 500 young people representing 100 countries to discuss the challenges faced by youth in the Middle East and the world.
"The Amman Declaration on Youth is a roadmap to support their roles in and contributions to peace building and countering extremism and conflict. "
The Forum, held under the patronage of Crown Prince Hussein and in partnership with the United Nations and civil society organisations, addressed ongoing efforts by various stakeholders to raise global awareness of youth’s contribution to peace-making. It also sought to prepare a joint work programme, a vision and a roadmap for partnering with young people to prevent conflict, counter extremism and build lasting peace.
The Crown Prince delivered an address at the opening session of the Forum, in which he affirmed that Jordan will strive, through the UN Security Council, to work towards endorsing an agenda on youth, peace and security, with the goal of ensuring that young people will have a role in security and peace-making — as active partners rather than as mere participants.
At the closing of the Forum, the Amman Youth Declaration, drafted by young people themselves, was produced in an effort to draw a functional roadmap to support youths’ role and their contributions to peace-building and countering extremism and conflict.
To complement these efforts and build on the Amman Youth Declaration, the UN Security Council endorsed a resolution submitted by Jordan on Youth, Peace and Security, which was the first of its kind in the history of the UN. The resolution was the culmination of Jordan’s efforts over the previous years and the Crown Prince’s work to highlight the role of young people and the importance of their participation as key actors in peace-making and conflict resolution.
