Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations remarked that youth leadership plays an effective role in revolutionizing world diplomacy and mode of conflict resolution. He has stressed the need for more input from young people in policymaking.
During “Youth Leadership and Global Diplomacy: A Cooperative Approach to Conflict Resolution,” a panel discussion, Ambassador Jadoon noted the requirement that new and inclusive strategies be devised to meet the global challenges to which youth leadership should be central.
“The majority of the world’s population at present comprises its youth; hence their energy, vigor, and innovations will certainly go a long way in addressing conflicts and building sustainable solutions,” he stated. He mentioned that while a number of resolutions of the UN are available as a recognition of the potential of youth, it still lacked concrete actions to integrate their voices within the process more meaningfully.
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Introducing some of the protracted conflicts such as Palestine and Kashmir in rather empathic terms as “historic failures in conventional approaches to conflict resolution”, the ambassador stated, “These long-standing conflicts have placed millions of youth under foreign occupation and repression, denial of their rights”.
Yet Ambassador Jadoon also recognized the fact that despite all these challenges, the youth of Kashmir and Palestine remain resilient. They advocate for their rights through peaceful means and with an appropriate touch of education, technology, and creative expression.
Some of the critical points he articulated for youth-led conflict resolution are:
Youth-led dialogues and innovations in technology have proven successful in terms of creating bridges. There should be synergistic partnerships between youth leaders, governments, and international organizations. The UN Youth Strategy and other such programs provide models, yet tailored interventions are required to remove barriers to youth participation.
Creating global exchange programs is necessary for peace-building and establishing diverse diplomatic frameworks. Challenges such as political repression, economic hardship, and lack of platforms should be addressed. The right to youth activists and freedom of expression should be respected.
Adherence to both international law and equity going as far as even implementing UN resolutions affirming the right to self-determination for the people of Palestine and Kashmir is essential for sustainable conflict resolution.
Ambassador Jadoon reiterated the Pakistan’s commitment to youth leadership preparation for conflict areas such as Kashmir and Palestine and urged the international community to amplify young voices. “Youth-led inclusive diplomacy can effect changes in the most transformative and sustainable manner in global conflict resolution,” he said.