Building Youth Leadership to Prevent Gender-Based Violence and the Outbreak of Conflicts

Geneva is home to a large number of international organizations, including more than 40 United Nations entities, a thriving community of non-governmental organizations and renowned academic and research institutions. Together, all these actors work for peace, rights and well-being, touching the lives of individuals across the world. Geneva Peace Week offers an opportunity to connect and highlight the work of these actors and to expand the space for dialogue about building peace and resolving conflict in Geneva and beyond. This year’s main focus is on Prevention Across Sectors and Institutions: What Pathways for Effective Implementation?

It has been proven that it is important to promote and support meaningful youth involvement at all levels of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and preventing Gender Based Violence. Moreover, it is recognized that it is a demographic and democratic imperative to include young people in issues of peace and security.  Youth participation, especially amplifying the voices of young women, in shaping peace is an effective way to combat gender based violence.

This year, the World YWCA is hosting an event on: Building Youth Leadership to Prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the Outbreak of Conflicts.

WHEN?  8th of November at 14:00 – 15:30

WHERE? Maison de la Paix (IHEID A2) Geneva, Switzerland

They are partnering with Sonke Gender Justice, Men Engage Alliance, Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP), Geneva Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Gender Centre at The Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies(IHEID), Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Gender and Mine Action Program (GMAP).

This event will recognize young people’s/young women’s role for building and sustaining peace through a multi-level, inter-generational conversation. They will attempt to define a new agenda on youth, peace and security.  Participants are going to share informed strategies to prevent and respond to gender based violence. This will include strategies implemented with adolescents and youth living in a broad range of settings, including settings affected by conflict and high levels of violence.  Concrete examples and effective strategies on building young people’s and especially young women’s leadership will also be shared. Additionally, the subject of how to engage men and boys in ending GBV and advocating for gender equality will be discussed.