UNESCO Caribbean Bridges Knowledge Gap on Youth, Peace, and Security in the Caribbean

On April 5, 2023, the UNESCO Office of the Caribbean, in partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat, held a virtual roundtable discussion titled 'Case Studies in Action: Youth Empowerment and Regional Collaboration for a Peaceful Caribbean'. This event served as the inaugural presentation of a Knowledge Product centered on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) in the Caribbean region, comprising of a collection of fourteen case-studies showcasing good practices, challenges, and lessons learned in support of meaningful youth engagement in peace and security issues in the region.

Eighty-two representatives from national governments, youth organizations, regional intergovernmental organizations and United Nations entities, from 25 different countries and territories in the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America, tuned in to this unique platform to harness the collective wisdom of the region's youth and highlight innovative approaches for peacebuilding, community resilience, and sustainable development.

Gabriella Ramos, UNESCO's Assistant Director for Social and Human Sciences, warmly welcomed the attendees, emphasizing that young people, who constitute a significant majority of the Caribbean population, are crucial for devising impactful solutions that promote peace and youth empowerment. She also highlighted that the various challenges and inequalities, including those related to gender, economic background, and geographical location, tend to hinder young people's progress and potential. However, she reinforced UNESCO's commitment to spearhead the change.

Young people in the Caribbean frequently encounter socio-economic and political challenges, including gender-based violence, limited employment opportunities, climate change, and crime and security-related issues. The lack of research often hampers the ability to tackle these problems.

Michelle Small Bartley, Deputy Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, expressed her delight at the creation of a knowledge product centered around a collection of case studies on youth peace and security in the Caribbean. She emphasized that this effort not only showcases existing practices and examples but also provides invaluable insights for operationalizing the Youth peace and security agenda in the region.

The case studies, developed through a multi-stakeholder approach, help contextualize the Youth, Peace and Security agenda in the region and highlight key frameworks and regional milestones. The insights from the fourteen case studies provide a variety of recommendations and entry points for national governments, regional organizations, and international stakeholders engaged in peace and security, youth development, and sustainable development within the Caribbean context.

Representatives from various youth organizations presented their initiatives for sharing youth involvement and engagement with policies in their respective countries, including Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia. These initiatives address issues such as violence prevention, conflict resolution, disengagement and reintegration, gender equality, and sexual and health education programs to promote a culture of peace.

The virtual discussion also laid the groundwork for the establishment of a regional coalition on youth peace and security. This coalition has the potential to serve as a platform for intergenerational and multi-sectoral partnership, fostering collaboration and a collective vision to advance youth peace and security in the region.