21 August 2024, Montpellier. – Last month, in the vibrant city of Montpellier, France, something extraordinary happened. From July 22 to July 26, 2024, young leaders from every corner of the globe gathered for the Youth Summit on Peace and a Sustainable Future. This wasn’t just another conference—it was a dynamic, youth-driven event that tackled some of the biggest challenges facing our world today. From climate change to conflict resolution, these young changemakers came together to shape a vision for a peaceful and sustainable future.
Supported by Mayor Michaël Delafosse and the Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research (IPPDR), the summit was a melting pot of ideas, collaboration, and inspiration. It wasn’t just about talking; it was about action—action that culminated in the Montpellier Declaration, a bold statement of commitment from youth to lead the way toward a better world.
A Platform for Global Youth Voices
The summit was packed with discussions, panels, and workshops that dug deep into issues like urban development, migration, and the role of youth in peacebuilding. It was a space where young people didn’t just listen—they led. One of the standout aspects of the summit was the involvement of members from the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board, who brought diverse perspectives from their regions to the table.
Daniel del Valle Blanco from Spain highlighted how European cities can balance modern development with cultural preservation, stressing that youth involvement is crucial to making cities sustainable and vibrant. Milagros Costabell from Uruguay brought attention to the challenges of rapid urbanization and social inequality in Latin America, advocating for youth-led initiatives to build more inclusive cities. Meanwhile, Lala Salfari from Azerbaijan spoke powerfully about the need for peacebuilding in post-conflict urban areas, underscoring how essential it is for cities recovering from conflict to be places of safety and community.
These voices weren’t just part of the conversation—they were shaping it.
The Montpellier Declaration: A Blueprint for the Future
At the heart of the summit was the adoption of the Montpellier Declaration. This isn’t just a document; it’s a call to action, reflecting the voices and aspirations of youth from across the globe. The declaration emphasizes the vital role of youth in peace processes, particularly underlining United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, which highlights the importance of youth in global peace and security.
The Montpellier Declaration sets out several key areas where youth must take the lead:
Active Representation and Participation in Peace Processes: The declaration calls for the inclusion of marginalized young people—including those with disabilities, refugees, and members of the LGBTQAI+ community—in peace negotiations and implementation of agreements. This is crucial because their exclusion is seen as detrimental to achieving sustainable peace.
Youth-Led Peace Strategies: It promotes the development of youth-led peace strategies that encompass social and economic development, youth employment, education, and political engagement. The aim is to ensure that youth are not just participants but leaders in the journey towards peace and sustainability.
Protection and Compliance with International Law: The declaration underscores the need for all previous UN Security Council resolutions to end impunity to be fully implemented, emphasizing the protection of youth engaged in peace initiatives.
Promotion of a Culture of Peace: It stresses the importance of promoting a culture of peace, tolerance, and dialogue, and calls on all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, to discourage participation in acts of violence, terrorism, and hate speech.
Collaborative Initiatives and Partnerships: The declaration encourages partnerships between youth organizations, governments, and the private sector to foster dialogue, peace, and reconciliation.
Disengagement and Reintegration: It highlights the need for structures that support youth disengaging from conflict and assist in their reintegration into society, emphasizing vocational training and orientation.
Next Steps for Global Action: The declaration calls on the United Nations and its Member States to ensure inclusive youth representation in decision-making processes at all levels and to monitor and report on the progress of youth contributions to peace processes every three years.
The declaration also lists the diverse countries represented at the summit, from Albania to Zimbabwe, showcasing the global nature of the youth movement for peace and sustainability.
Youth Leading the Charge
The Youth Summit in Montpellier wasn’t just a moment; it’s a movement. It showed the world that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are leading today. The summit underscored that when it comes to creating sustainable, inclusive cities, youth voices are not optional; they are essential.
The involvement of local leaders, like Mayor Michaël Delafosse, who is committed to making Montpellier a hub for youth-driven sustainability efforts, further solidified the importance of youth in these global conversations.
As we look to the future, the Montpellier Declaration and the outcomes of this summit provide a powerful roadmap. But more than that, they remind us that youth empowerment isn’t just about giving young people a seat at the table—it’s about recognizing that they are the ones building the table.
So, whether you’re a young leader already driving change in your community or someone looking to get involved, the message is clear: The future is yours to shape. And as the Youth Summit on Peace and a Sustainable Future has shown, together, we can build a world that is not only sustainable but also peaceful and inclusive for all.
Let’s take this momentum and keep pushing forward. The journey has just begun.
