Promoting Youth Inclusion in Freedom of Religion and Peacebuilding Efforts

The Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Actions (JISRA) is a five-year Dutch-funded initiative involving member organisations Mensen met een Missie, Tearfund, Search for Common Ground, Faith for Action, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. JISRA collaborates with 50 civil society organisations in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda, with additional support for international lobbying and advocacy efforts in Europe and the USA. The goal of this international, inter-religious partnership is to promote peaceful and just societies where everyone can enjoy freedom of religion or belief.

Sustainable Development Goals

In his 2024 report, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres states that less than a fifth of the Sustainable Development Goals are on track, nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over one third has stalled or even regressed. The unique capabilities of a wide range of participants at all levels of society are needed to meet these highly interconnected and complex challenges. 

International stakeholders in development, humanitarian, and security spaces increasingly recognise the significant role played by people of faith, particularly women and young people, in advancing peace and development. Partnering with them has been critical in fostering resilience, conflict prevention, countering violent extremism, and sustaining peace due to their unique connections to local communities and the trust they enjoy.

Youth participation

To build on the role of young people in this project, JISRA organised a youth advocacy mission to New York during the 2024 United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Participants and leaders came from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali and Indonesia, ensuring a wide range of people were represented, helping to bridge the gap between global policymakers and local realities, and empowering local participants with a sense of ownership in contributing to global policies.

To help young people to advocate confidently and effectively for their goals during their attendance, training in the ‘Common Ground Approach to Advocacy’ provided an opportunity to learn and practice core advocacy skills, led by Search for Common Ground.

Throughout the week-long mission, young people took part in conversations on critically developing local solutions, including a meeting with the Dutch Mission to the United Nations, showcasing the imperative work of the JISRA youth and reaffirming appreciation to the Dutch government for their continued support of the JISRA project. Youth also attended a networking session with over 50 members of the Global Coalition on Youth Peace and Security, hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This networking opportunity allowed for young people from across the globe to share details on the work they are leading to advance peace and to find out how they could join the Global Coalition and contribute to shaping Youth, Peace and Security policies in New York. Youth also participated and engaged in the Multi-faith Advisory Council Side Event, ‘Interfaith Collaboration as a Model for Other Sectors,’ with speakers representing diverse faith communities.

Bridging divides and building peace

The JISRA project also hosted an event on the theme of ‘Bridging Divides and Building Peace’. This provided a platform for youth dialogue on Freedom of Religion and Belief and Sustainable Development Goal 16 on ‘Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies’, and showcased experiences, challenges and opportunities of young people from diverse religious, cultural and geographic backgrounds. 

The event included a panel discussion with four JISRA youth representatives: Mushin Kaduyu Nuwagaba (Allied Muslim Youth Uganda); Anissa Fitria (Peace Generation Indonesia); Haleemah Ahmad (Acres of Peace); and Seybou Sultan, (JISRA, Mali). Each presented case studies from their own context, such as Anissa Fitria’s discussion of concepts and mechanisms that resonate with young people. This included a presentation of best practice using gamification tools in the peacebuilding curriculum, such as board games and podcasts, which meet young people where they are and can increase accessibility.

The youth representatives were joined on the panel by Ana Carolina De Almeida Kobe, who stressed the importance of youth participation and called for support for both meaningful youth participation and advocacy efforts for the implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda. 

Summary

The JISRA HLPF Youth Advocacy Mission set a powerful precedent for youth inclusion in global peace and development efforts. By continuing to empower and support young leaders, the global community can collectively advance towards achieving the SDGs and building a more just and peaceful world for all.