Through funding from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) the National Youth Council trained youth leaders and regional authorities of the Lower River Region on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 and 2419; held on Sunday September 15 in Soma.
On 9 December 2015, the UNSC unanimously adopted the Resolution 2250 which recognizes the importance and positive role of young people in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.
As a follow-up to this, on 6 June 2018, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2419 calling for increased Role of Youth in Negotiating and Implementing Peace Agreements, and for member states to take measures to remove the causes and prevent the radicalization of young people and invest in the youth.
In his opening statement, Ousman Ceesay, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of Interior expressed delight on the capacity building, saying the Gambia Government is committed to support the youth ruling body to realize the UNSCR2250 and 2419.
“The NYC is championing the drive in propagation of peace, tolerance and social cohesion. NYC continues taking leadership and ownership of the UNSCR 2250 on youth, peace security and local levels,” he said.
This year through the UN Peace Building Fund (PBF) NYC and its registered National Youth Organizations are working with UN Agencies (UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP and IOM) to promote the participation of youth and children in the maintenance of sustainable peace and reconciliation, he stated.
He said in line with United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2017-2021 also the NDP 2018-2021 NYC has organized many capacity building activities on different topics, adding the youth council is engage in key reforms process such as the current consultation of the constitutional reform.
Lamin Darboe, executive director of NYC said the training means to bring youth leaders and the regional authorities to discuss on 2250 and 2419 UNSCR.
“This resolution mainly focuses on youth’s peace and security,” he said.
However, he added the resolution would enable youth officials to get young people into peace and security matters, adding it would further transform youth’s philosophy for bearing in mind that the young are perpetrators and victims of conflict situations.
The youth bureaucrat also told participants that this resolution would be used to enlighten youth on their fundamental role on enduring peace and stability.
Darboe said despite the youth are not the initiators of violence but mostly they are the victims. However, adding youths are doing credible works in their various communities to ensure eternal.
Dembo Kambi, NYC’s chairman: “the resolution seek to address the democratic and demographic imperative of involving youth on issues of peace and security, especially in conflict affected countries. The number of youth is indeed something that the world could have utilized to bring peace.”
Landing Sanneh, chairman of Mansakonko Area Council: “Gambian youth had demonstrated their willingness to partake in nation building but they need support from authorities.”
“The issues that bordered the development of young people should be overlook by any of us (authorities),” Sanneh added.
