Youth, Peace, and Security Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Youth, Peace, and Security Act, the first comprehensive legislation that would prioritize the inclusion of youth in conflict resolution.
There are more than 1.8 billion youth in the world. Whether here in the U.S. or abroad, youth populations have long been at the forefront of building peace in their communities by creating youth-led movements, organizations, and networks to mitigate negative effects of conflict and to prevent recurring cycles of violence. Inclusive peace processes are proven to more holistically address the root causes of violence and lead to more sustainable peace.
Not only is it important to include youth in conflict resolution for the sake of inclusivity, it has also been proven to lead to more sustainable peace. For example, Somali Youth Learners Initiative (``SYLI'') was created to improve Somali youths' access to education and to promote civic engagement. After learning leadership and nonviolent conflict resolution skills through the program, the students were able to implement their own youth-led community projects and communicate effectively with politicians about policies that impact youth. Youth who gained access to improved secondary school and civic engagement opportunities through SYLI and the community projects were 65 percent less likely to demonstrate moral or material support for political violence.
My bill will codify the roles of a Youth Coordinator at USAID and Youth Points of Contact in relevant bureaus; integrate youth consultation into program design; and provide financial and technical assistance to youth-led initiatives in pursuit of conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The Youth, Peace, and Security Act is a once-in-a-generation shift in U.S. foreign policy that would bring youth voices to the table in conflicts around the world. In countries facing conflict, it will be the young people who will bear the burden of sustaining peace over generations, leading their society from reconciliation to prosperity.
I am thrilled to be joined in leading this bill by my colleagues, Representatives Susan Brooks, Dean Phillips, and John Curtis, and am grateful to our other colleagues who have supported this introduction. My bill is also endorsed by over 35 non-governmental organizations. I urge the House of Representatives to join me in passing this important legislation.
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