The National Youth Council NYC over the weekend validated its peace and security report aim to ensure sustainable peace and security in the country held at Nana conference hall, Bakau.
Lamin Darboe, executive director for NYC described the involvement of young people as significant, adding youth are sometimes victims of conflict; therefore, is critical to work with them to prevent conflict.
“The UN Security Council resolution [UNSCR] 2250 on youth came into being in 2015 December, it’s looking at certain pillars in terms of youth engagements in peace and security including participation, protection, prevention, partnership and disengagement as well as reintegration,” he said.
He added: “In The Gambia we take these resolutions very important because often people take youth as only violence’s perpetrators. Frequently when duty bearers are discussing about peace and security they only talk about the security personnel alone and they tent to forget the civilians, especially the youth.”
He noted that the some people may commit actions in their communities or in the social media that could be potential conflict acts without the perpetrators knowing its consequence, adding when those kind of conflicts uprights duty bearers often command security officers to act immediately.
Darboe asserted that UN feel it fitting to come up with this resolutions so that youth participate in peace building and security adding, “Youth are a times being victims of certain circumstances, because they are either utilised, deceive or force get to carry out certain action on behalf of elders, government, parents and even the general society.”
However, Darboe said NYC had recognised unemployment, marginalization and exclude youth on decision making process as factors that fuel conflicts, noting government need to tackle these challenges so as to sustain peace and security in the tiny West African nation.
Fabakary Kalleh, facilitator said his presentation focused on the UNSCR 2250 on youth peace and security resolution because it serves as the mother of the UN resolutions on youth.
He added that NYC is trying to build the concept of peace building as well as conflict to the mindset of the youth leaders so that they have vast knowledge in maintaining peace and security in the society.
Author: Sulayman Waan