Almaty, Kazakhstan, 31 July 2026 — More than a decade after the landmark adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, which first recognized young people as essential partners in building and sustaining peace, young peacebuilders, governments, United Nations entities and civil society organizations gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan to help chart the future of the global Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda.
Convened from 28–30 July 2026, the Global Strategic Dialogue on YPS: From Normative Progress to Implementation Impact brought together more than 60 participants from 47 countries, including representatives from 33 of the world's 37 national and regional YPS coalitions—the first time such a broad cross-section of the global movement has gathered in person. At a pivotal moment for the agenda, the Dialogue created a rare opportunity for young peacebuilders from across regions to come together, exchange experiences and build a shared vision for the years ahead.
“Today, the question is no longer whether young people belong at the table,” said UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita. “The question is how we ensure they have the space, the resources and the influence to help shape the decisions that affect their lives and their futures. That means moving from commitments to action.”
Over the past decade, the Youth, Peace and Security movement has grown from a call to recognize young people as peacebuilders into a global effort to put that vision into practice. Through successive United Nations Security Council resolutions, it has become an increasingly important part of how the United Nations, governments and other non-state actors work to build and sustain peace. The next phase is to turn those global commitments into tangible impact in countries and communities.
Bringing together representatives from so many national and regional YPS coalitions for the first time in Almaty marked an important milestone for the movement, reflecting years of investment by UNFPA and its partners to strengthen youth leadership for peace, a vital prerequisite for sustainable development. These coalitions work across sectors to translate global commitments into action by supporting National Action Plans, strengthening partnerships and advancing YPS efforts within communities.
Participants identified several priorities for the next decade. They emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between young people, governments, United Nations entities and local communities to advance the agenda at national and local levels. They also identified sustainable financing for YPS efforts and the protection of young peacebuilders as two of the most pressing priorities.
Participants further called for stronger collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the global YPS movement, while emphasizing the need for the agenda to continue responding to emerging challenges, including digital governance, democratic backsliding, gender inequality and climate insecurity.
Recommendations emerging from Almaty will help inform several major global policy processes later this year, including the Second Independent Progress Study on YPS, the Secretary-General's Report on YPS, and the development of the YPS 2035 Roadmap for Collective Action.
The Almaty Dialogue was convened by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), together with the United Nations Youth Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Government of Italy and hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Zina Alam; zialam@unfpa.org | media@unfpa.org
ABOUT UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people in more than 150 countries and territories. It provides essential health services, protection from violence and vital information about sexual and reproductive health and rights. UNFPA also supports governments in responding to changing population needs so that people can thrive today and in the future.
UNFPA AND THE YOUTH, PEACE AND SECURITY AGENDA
As a member of the United Nations Secretariat on YPS (alongside DPPA and the UN Youth Office), UNFPA works with governments, young people, civil society organizations and United Nations partners to advance the YPS agenda globally while supporting its implementation at national and regional levels.
UNFPA supports national and regional multi-stakeholder YPS coalitions, helping young people, governments and civil society translate global commitments into action. This includes supporting the development and implementation of National Action Plans, strengthening youth participation in peacebuilding and governance, and ensuring that the experiences of young peacebuilders inform regional and global policy processes.
To learn more about UNFPA’s work on YPS and peacebuilding, visit the UNFPA website.
