Resolution 2250 has also been cited by many as a major milestone in establishing the position of youth in this world by urging governments to ensure youth engagement at all levels of decision-making. It also urges governments to largely invest in their education and professional skill building programs in order to discourage them from engaging in violence, and to eventually reintegrate the young population involved in violence back in the society.
Youth constitutes larger demographic in the world population than ever. So Resolution 2250 is a great positive step in introducing the new role to the young population, but the text won't mean much unless actually translated into a systematic plan of action. Here is where organizations led by and focused on youth can step in, says Rajendra Mulmi, country director of Search for Common Ground, Nepal.
He states that the UNSC's adoption of Resolution 2250 has come at an opportune moment for Nepal. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has currently been preparing to implement 'Youth Vision-2025' and a 10-year strategic planning for the overall development of youth in the country, which stresses on unity, equity, justice, harmony, and inclusion for the overall development of the young generation.
"Youth organizations can play a vital role in creating an atmosphere for the government to adopt the Resolution as part of the Youth Vision-2025. Besides, we need to mobilize volunteers to generate awareness about the roles of youth in peace-building and conflict resolution. At the same time, it is also upon youth organizations to conduct necessary skill building programs to ensure that more and more youth can effectively fulfill their 'newly recognized' role," Mulmi explains.
Pratima Pokharel, executive member at Youth Initiative, agrees, even as she isn't entirely convinced that the Resolution will be effectively translated into plan of action by member countries.
"UNSC's Resolution only gives moral obligation to the member countries. So, we can't yet rejoice, given the fact that the text might not actually be adopted by all the UN member countries, including Nepal. However, we should do everything in our capacity to push our government to embrace the historical documents," she says. The role of youth organizations, Pratima emphasizes, is to aware young Nepalis regarding the Resolution's content.
"The government will lose a huge opportunity if it cannot capitalize on the level of awareness and enthusiasm today's Nepali youth have in regard to maintaining peace and harmony, and dispute resolution, especially considering the present-day crisis the nation is reeling under," she concludes.
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