Youth Peace Summit

“Young people do not wait for peace, they build it.”

This Charter begins with that conviction.

The Youth Peace Summit 2026 Charter is a declaration of a generation determined to shape the future of peace. It is founded on the belief that lasting peace cannot be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people—the generation that will inherit both the consequences of today’s conflicts and the responsibility for tomorrow’s solutions.

For too long, young people have been consulted after decisions have been made rather than entrusted to help make them. This Charter challenges that approach. It demonstrates that youth are not merely beneficiaries of peacebuilding but essential architects of it, bringing innovation, lived experience, and the courage to confront the world’s most pressing challenges.

The thirty-three proposals contained within this Charter were developed through dialogue, debate, and collaboration among youth delegates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Together, they represent a practical agenda for governments, international organizations, civil society, educational institutions, and communities to strengthen peace through concrete action rather than aspiration alone.

These proposals are organized under five interconnected pillars, Partnerships, Prevention, Protection, Participation, and Disengagement & Reintegration, reflecting a comprehensive vision of peace that addresses both the causes of conflict and the foundations of resilient societies.

This Charter is more than a collection of proposals. It is a commitment by young people to lead, to collaborate, and to hold ourselves and our institutions accountable. We present these recommendations not as distant ambitions, but as achievable commitments that demand action today.

Because young people do not wait for peace, they build it