Efforts to localize the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda across the Western Balkans have brought together youth, civil society, and policymakers to address regional challenges through “RYCOGNISED YPS Advocacy Efforts in WB6” Project. These initiatives, led by RYCO in collaboration with youth councils and local organizations, focus on fostering inclusion, peacebuilding, and active youth participation in shaping a secure and united future. The “RYCOGNIZED – Enhancing peacebuilding and reconciliation in WB6” project contributes to the continuation of the “RYCOGNIZED” of 2023 and it serves to enhance RYCO’s advocacy efforts and institutional capacities in the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda in the region. The project supports RYCO’s effort to create an enabling environment in the Western Balkans for peacebuilding, regional youth cooperation, and improving the position of youth. Among the activities implemented under this project are also the local activities supporting the establishment of the local YPS architecture in WB6 through NYCs and the development of the Peace Capital methodology. “RYCOGNIZED – Enhancing peacebuilding and reconciliation in WB6” is financed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WB6 Governments.

Albania

In Albania, Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) initiatives, jointly implemented by the National Youth Congress (NYC) and the United Nations Association Albania (UNAA), are empowering youth and civil society organizations (CSOs) to take an active role in peacebuilding.

NYC led two key research efforts to strengthen the YPS agenda. The first study, Mapping CSOs: Role, Challenges, and Perceptions, analyzed the capacities of CSOs to promote youth participation in peace processes, offering actionable insights aligned with UNSCR 2250. The second, Digitalization and AI in YPS: “Next-Gen Policy”, explored how digital tools and AI can revolutionize youth engagement, emphasizing innovative solutions for underserved communities.

These findings were amplified through advocacy campaigns and focus groups in Tirana, Lezha, and Elbasan, engaging 30 young participants. UNAA and NYC further advanced the agenda with Peace Week 2024, a five-day event that included hybrid panel discussions and a YPS Network Meet-Up. Over 100 participants and 20+ stakeholders discussed themes such as youth-led peacebuilding, education, and digital technology’s role in conflict prevention.

Participants emphasized the need for sustainable strategies and coordination, underscoring that “Peace is about building trust and creating spaces for meaningful participation.”

These efforts highlight the transformative potential of collaboration in advancing the YPS agenda in Albania.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina efforts were focused in a capacity-building program on equipping civil society organizations with tools to understand and promote the YPS agenda, particularly the youth participation pillar. This initiative directly engaged 27 young people from diverse regions, training them to serve as multipliers in their communities.

To make these concepts accessible, the program developed innovative tools, including a board game designed to teach young people about youth organizing. Additionally, methodological documents were created to monitor the implementation of the youth law, ensuring accountability and transparency.

To make these concepts accessible, the program developed innovative tools, including a board game designed to teach young people about youth organizing. Additionally, methodological documents were created to monitor the implementation of the youth law, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Iman Maslić, President of the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized, “Empowering youth through the YPS agenda is not just about shaping the future; it’s about giving young people a seat at the table today”

Next steps to be planned include translating these materials into local languages, developing new tools for engaging youth, and continuing promotional activities.

Kosovo*2: Building Bridges Through Dialogue and Creativity

Kosovo’s activities underscored the importance of inclusivity and interethnic dialogue. The Student Peace and Security Conference, held in collaboration with the Kosovar Youth Council, brought together 174 students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including representatives from non-majority communities and schools operating under the Serbian system. The event fostered mutual understanding and equipped participants with advocacy skills to promote peace and security initiatives in their schools and communities.

A memorable moment occurred during a panel discussion on “Peace and Security in High Schools,” Anes, a student representative from North Mitrovica, answered a question, after which a student from South Mitrovica in the audience extended an invitation, saying:

“How come we live in the same city, and we have never played football? That is a shame. Let’s organize and do that.”

Another initiative, “Friendship Through Photography”, engaged 16 young people in capturing themes of peace and diversity through photography. Participants proposed organizing an exhibition of their work and expanding the initiative to explore daily life and challenges across communities.

Montenegro

In Montenegro, diverse activities were undertaken to advance the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda, tailoring efforts to Montenegro’s specific context. Guided by the “Analysis of the Implementation of YPS in Montenegro”, LBO MNE collaborated with partners like the Youth Network of Montenegro, the Council of Europe’s School of Political Studies, and the OSCE Mission to enhance youth engagement and stakeholder cooperation.

Key Activities:

LBO MNE will continue fostering youth-led implementation of the YPS agenda by building bridges between young people, decision-makers, and civil society. Focus areas include capacity-building for stakeholders and creating sustainable partnerships to ensure the agenda’s long-term impact.

North Macedonia: Mapping Peace and Security Ecosystems

The multistakeholder event “Youth Connect: A Dialogue for Peace and Security” in Krusevo (December 11–13, 2024) gathered 25 participants to identify critical factors and relationships within the peace and security ecosystem in North Macedonia and the wider Western Balkans. Using a system-mapping approach, participants examined youth involvement in peacebuilding, analyzing barriers such as youth unemployment, ethnic tensions, and limited opportunities for decision-making.

One participant reflected,

“I consider North Macedonia to be relatively safe, but there are still real security risks that need to be addressed. Some groups, such as women, face more significant challenges.”

Others noted that high youth unemployment fuels frustration and reduces optimism about the future.

The event’s key outcome was a comprehensive system map, aimed at integrating peace and security initiatives into strategies and policies. The local branch office will continue engaging diverse stakeholders to promote YPS values in policymaking.

Serbia

Serbia’s efforts centered on localizing UN Resolution 2250 and empowering youth as peacebuilders.Events in towns like Cicevac, Pancevo, and Nis were tailored to meet the unique needs of participants.

The workshops emphasized the five pillars of UN Resolution 2250—participation, protection, prevention, partnerships, and reintegration. Participants also contributed to the Regional Peace Capitals Initiative, which seeks to establish symbolic peace hubs across the Western Balkans.

The Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda across the Western Balkans has demonstrated the transformative power of youth-led initiatives in fostering peace, inclusion, and regional cooperation. Through research, advocacy, and creative engagement strategies, these efforts have brought together diverse stakeholders, empowering young people as key agents of change in their communities. Each initiative demonstrates the value of tailoring approaches to local needs while ensuring broader regional alignment. By addressing systemic challenges and amplifying youth voices, these programs emphasize the collective responsibility of governments, institutions, and communities to create opportunities for meaningful participation and shared progress.

2* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with Security Council Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Recently, local activities in several cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina were organized as our team from LBO BIH visited Tuzla, Brčko, and Banja Luka. This is a continuation of the activities that started with the YPS MeetUp event in Sarajevo and the Capacity Building Training that was organized previously in Mostar.

As a prelude to this event, our team, together with UNFPA Bosnia and Herzegovina, hosted the Youth Voices for Peace event in Sarajevo on December 8, which focused on the YPS Agenda activities. Particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussions around the YPS Agenda are emerging, marking an essential step in addressing the residual impacts of the 90s war and the intergenerational trauma it inflicted. In response, UNFPA and RYCO joined forces to advance this dialogue and actively involve young people in peacebuilding. The initiative introduced a translated version of Resolution 2250 to initiate discussions, highlight ongoing efforts showcasing the capabilities of youth in addressing conflict aftermath, and examine youth policies for inclusivity. The event’s primary goal was to create a platform uniting media influence and policy-making to reinforce youth engagement in peace initiatives.

We then continued our activities in Tuzla, sometimes called the unknown NGO capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city of salt was a meeting place with our Superschools, a meeting with representatives of the local administration, and two events with young people. After the introductory session and discussion about the YPS Agenda and the mapping of actors for its implementation, we also organized RYCO Youth Coffee Talks on the topic of Culture as a catalyst for change.

We continued YPS activities a day later in Brčko, where we met with representatives of the Brčko District Government, Youth Council of Brčko District, and young people, with whom we discussed the YPS Agenda, as in Tuzla, and organized RYCO Youth Coffee Talks on the topic of YPS Agenda as an instrument of social cohesion.

Our last stop was Banja Luka, where we organized another YPS MeetUp meeting with representatives of youth and youth organizations from Banja Luka and the Republika Srpska, in order to map out actors, activities, and needs regarding the implementation of the YPS Agenda. These events were followed by a series of meetings with representatives of the French Institute in Banjaluka  and the Pedagogical Institute of the Republika Srpska.

Recognizing the complexity of the challenges addressed by Agenda 2250, RYCO is committed to adopting a multisectoral approach. By leveraging its resources and knowledge, RYCO will facilitate collaboration across various sectors to ensure a comprehensive and effective response to the diverse needs of youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region.

Bajina Bašta- RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia organized on 28th October 2023. the fourth Youth Talk this year that was focused on the UN Youth, Peace and Security Agenda. This event was co-organized with the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) and took place in Bajina Bašta where the Annual KOMS Assembly was held.

More than 40 young people, representatives of youth organizations and organizations for youth from all parts of Serbia discussed priorities of YPS Agenda, presented what their organizations are doing on local level under this Agenda, what are their needs in order to build their capacities and further develop activities in order to be more efficient and sustainable. Opening remarks were given by Ms. Aleksandra Mihajlović, Program Assistant in KOMS and Ms. Ivana Markulić, Program Officer in RYCO LBO Serbia: they have familiarized participants with YPS Agenda priorities, core pillars and why its implementation is crucial for youth, their position and youth policy overall, not just in Serbia but in the whole Western Balkans region. Special focus was put on the local context, why peacebuilding and reconciliation processes are important and on which way these organizations are involved in it and on which level.

This introductory part was followed by group discussions that address main YPS implementation areas: youth policies and programs, policies and programs of peace and security, foreign policy and international cooperation, education, culture and art, economic and employment policy, justice and human rights policy, gender equality, healthcare policies, environmental protection and climate change, policies in area of science and technology. Participants have developed overviews of what is done in their communities regarding these program implementation areas and what should be done more, or modified or even kept as  good practice. Conclusion of this Youth Talk was unanimous agreement that there is a need for joint actions, intersectoral and multisectorial cooperation and strategic approach towards implementation of UN YPS Agenda priorities in Serbia.

The aspiration to build an inclusive and just peace encouraged the adoption of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda. Founded in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, the Agenda emphasizes the importance of involving youth in all phases of peacebuilding, from conflict prevention to rebuilding trust and cooperation after conflict. The development of the Regional Agenda for Youth, Peace and Security for the Western Balkans is one of RYCO’s strategic priorities until 2025. KOMS also works strategically at the local level to achieve the goals set in UN Agenda 2250 and together with the RYCO office in Serbia will work on the development and implementation of the Regional Agenda in the coming period.