February 25
@
7:00 am
–
February 26
@
8:30 am
We will explore the unique and powerful roles of youth—including those formerly involved in armed conflicts—in building and sustaining peace.
[Time and Venue]
- Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time), Wednesday, 25th February 2026
- 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., 26th February (Japan Standard Time)
- 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Pakistan time）
- 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (DRC time)
- 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (UK time)
- Online (Zoom webinar)
[Registration]
https://charterforcompassion.org/what-we-do/support-youth/building-new-cycles-of-peace.html
[Contents]
In recent years, the role of youth has been increasingly emphasized in international agendas such as the SDGs, Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. However, while the potential and critical role of young people is being recognized, youth who have been involved with non-state armed groups—who may be some of the most essential actors in conflict resolution and peacebuilding—are often overlooked and viewed merely as security threats by the international community.
At this event, we are honored to have two members of GTY: Mr. Abdul Wahid Sesay, who was a former combatant of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone, and Mr. Julien Vikemba, co-founder and executive director of Sote Pamoja in the Democratic Republic of Congo, specializing in supporting the rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reintegration of former combatants. The discussion will be moderated by Ms. Atma Kaur Narinder, Social Impact Director.
Drawing on Wahid’s lived experience of involvement with a non-state armed group, and Vikemba’s expertise as a researcher and practitioner in peacebuilding, the discussion will highlight the complex challenges faced by former youth combatants toward reintegration, while also exploring the unique and powerful roles that such youth can play in advancing and sustaining peace.
This co-hosted event by GTY and CFC aims to shed light on the unique potential of youth combatants with lived experience of armed conflict through a dialogue. By amplifying their voices and fostering genuine dialogue, we aim to raise awareness of their critical roles in peacebuilding. Listening to their experiences is essential to deepening global discussions on their rights, as well as on the support needed for their reintegration and empowerment as Agents of Peace.
Register from here: https://charterforcompassion.org/what-we-do/support-youth/building-new-cycles-of-peace.html
