The Women’s International Peace Centre, in collaboration with civil society partners, convened the Regional Youth Forum on Peace and Security in Goma from October 22 to 24, 2024, bringing together young leaders from across the East African Community (EAC) region.
The forum provided a critical space for youth delegates from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and DRC to engage in meaningful discussions on their role in advancing peace and security.
With a focus on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2250, 1325, and 2475, the convening strengthened regional solidarity with the millions of young people affected by conflict in Eastern DRC. It enabled participants to reflect on their contributions to peace agreements, deepen their understanding of peace process dynamics in the EAC, and exchange experiences and opportunities in peacebuilding.
A key outcome of the forum was the development of a communiqué on youth participation in peace processes within the EAC region which was shared with key stakeholders, including the African Union Peace and Security Department, the EAC Peace and Security Secretariat, and other civil society organizations and actors engaged in peace and security efforts. It also reached facilitators of the Luanda and Nairobi Peace Processes, reinforcing the urgent need to institutionalize youth participation in decision-making.
As a direct success of the forum, youth delegates were invited by the African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU PAPS) to participate in a CSO Regional Dialogue on the revitalization of the Peace and Security Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Great Lakes Region held on December 4–5, 2024, in Addis Ababa.