The Launch of the iSCAN SOLVE Initiative
The SOLVE initiative was established with the understanding that the impact of conflicts on children is one of the impediments to peace and security around the world. From being recruited as child soldiers to getting killed and maimed, deprived of education and healthcare, as well as being separated from their families – their suffering bears many faces. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 recognizes that “young people play an important and positive role in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security”. The SOLVE initiative was launched in Vienna, Austria on 18 September 2020, with the support of some of the high profile personalities in the field of peace, security, and development, as well as youth activists from around the world:
- Kandeh Yumkella, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General
- Bente Angell-Hansen, President of EFTA Surveillance Authority and Former Ambassador of Norway to the United Nations in Vienna
- Angela Kane, Former ormer United Nations Under-Secretary-General
- Billy Batware, SOLVE initiator, the founder of iSCAN and Programme Officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna
- Anam Gill, Youth Activist from Pakistan
- Barbara Nakijoba, Youth Activist from Uganda
- Luate Satimon Joel Yata, Youth Activist from South Sudan
- Rahabel Nantoume, Youth Activist from Mali
A wide range of issues related to youth engagement in peacebuilding and conflict management were covered, underlining different aspects of social and cultural, economic, as well as political dimensions of it, and providing inspiration for the future of SOLVE. From establishing a platform for young people to share their experiences to building their capacities and providing mentorship and guidance from conflict management experts, SOLVE is about finding solutions that are local, verifiable and measurable, solution-oriented and empowering with a vision of a world in which young people live free from violent conflict.
Billy Batware said, that:
It makes sense to invest in young people, it makes sense to look after young people and it makes sense to keep young people out of the conflict because when young people suffer, the world suffers. When young people prosper, the world prospers.
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella opened his statement by highlighting the importance of young people understanding that they have a big role to play in their communities in preventing conflict and sustaining peace. He further stated that the SOLVE initiative is something that brings people together to impact their communities in a positive way and outlined the following factors for prevailing conflicts: bad governance and corruption, human rights violations, ethnic marginalization, the fight for natural resources, and lack of justice. He said:
The younger generation indeed lives in a globalised world. In such a world, all are one global community that has one home that is Earth. Energy justice is connected to climate justice and both are major challenges that the young generation is faced with. One cannot solve climate change without energy justice and access to affordable and sustainable energy. Good governance and stability cannot be sustained if people do not have sustainable life goals. We have to push for good governance across the globe, ensure that human rights are protected and prosperity is spread for everyone around the world, leaving no-one behind. The SOLVE Initiative is a wonderful initiative to bring young people together to impact their communities by de-escalating conflicts.
Bente Angell-Hansen highlighted that the SOLVE initiative is instrumental for empowering young voices to get involved in peace mediation and reconciliation, as well as post-war handling. Moreover, she stated that the SOLVE initiative benefits from being based in Vienna, a centre of international diplomacy, as many institutions, including those already working with youth, can play a role in promoting the initiative and youth empowerment can thus be multiplied. She said:
If we can do something for the youth is to better listen to them and bring what we hear into the policy-making processes, making it an intergenerational dialogue. Nothing can be better than that. Looking back to 15 years ago, women are much more involved now in peace mediation and reconciliation. At some point down the road, we will see the same for the young voices and the SOLVE initiative is really instrumental for that.
Angela Kane, in her written statement, stated that:
Enabling young people to get engaged, to voice their concerns and preoccupations – and yes, their demands – is an important contribution to make global institutions more inclusive. Civil society organizations can multiply the voices of young people. The SOLVE Initiative works to ensure a world in which young people live free from violent conflict.
The Context
The impact of conflicts on children is one of the impediments to peace and security around the world. From being recruited as child soldiers to getting killed and maimed, deprived of education and healthcare, as well as being separated from their families – their suffering bears many faces. Half of the 1,4 billion people living in countries impacted by crises and fragility are under the age of 20. At the end of 2019, almost 80 million people were forcefully displaced as a consequence of conflicts and violence. Moreover, around 90% of all the casualties occur among young males, making it a gendered issue.
What is being done at the international level? As most of the threats to security are driven from below, these issues cannot be resolved by governments alone. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 recognizes that “young people play an important and positive role in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.” “The missing piece 2018 independent study on youth, peace, and security” found that the work of young people is vital in peace and security across different phases of conflict, especially “if the right investments are made in the positive resilience of youth and their peacebuilding work is recognized and nurtured, societies may reap a significant dividend.”
Young people play an important role in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, and iSCAN is well-positioned to contribute to ensuring that young people in conflict-affected areas and communities are empowered. Through SOLVE, iSCAN is building a community of high-impact young conflict “Solvers” and putting them at the forefront of conflict prevention and the promotion and maintenance of global peace and security. With the launch of SOLVE initiative, a new platform for multilateral cooperation for conflict prevention was born. The expected impacts of the SOLVE are the following:
- For affected youth (immediate impact): Youths are provided with an alternative to conflict and given a purpose to rebuild their lives, heal their traumas caused by conflicts, and be part of bringing about.
- For the affected communities and country (short-term impact): Resilient communities are created, and an environment free of violent conflicts and conditions conducive to peace, security, and development in the country is established.
- For the affected region (medium-term impact): Peace in the region is created, allowing societies free from violent conflicts and conditions conducive to peace, security, and development in the region.
- For the international community (long-term impact): Global peace and security is maintained, contributing to the implementation of international instruments such as resolution 2250 and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Who may become a SOLVER? Although there is no universally agreed definition of youth, the United Nations defines youth as those persons between 15 and 24 years. Youth with high-impact potential to carry out initiatives aimed at resolving conflicts in their settings and communities, living in countries affected by violent conflict (current or past), working on projects related to conflict prevention and peacebuilding or has the potential and vision to do so with the view to improve the situation for themselves, their community or country. SOLVERs will be selected according to the criteria including age, region, and extent of violent conflict impact. A SOLVER is expected to be a peace builder, an ambassador, and a champion of peace, carrying out activities as described above, specific to her or his local context. An activity example could be organizing recreational activities for young people affected by conflicts, and organizing peace dialogues. Local organizations, other entities, and individuals may also submit nominations for SOLVERS. Once a SOLVER, iSCAN’s aim is to support selected applicants on their pathway to becoming veritable SOLVERS. iSCAN will establish communication with you, offering support, mentorship, training opportunities, connection with other SOLVERS and SOLVE Enablers, and access to resources and partners. iSCAN offers a platform and tools to support you in becoming a part of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. A concerned member of the international community who wishes to and has the necessary resources to support SOLVERS can become a SOLVE Enabler.
The Voice of Youth
After the opening statements, a list of inspiring youth activists joined the conversation, adding both context and depth to the conversation. Barbara Nakijoba, a youth activist from Uganda, underlined the importance of understanding that conflicts have a powerful impact in social, economic, and human dimensions. Accumulating knowledge and creating opportunities for its application is crucial to address the root causes of the problem.
The issue of conflict is multifaceted and it takes mobilizing everyone to take action and solve it. If we provide young people with enough alternatives and give them knowledge and choices, it would help bring positive change.
– Barbara Nakijoba, Youth Activist from Uganda
Raphael Nantoume, a youth activist from Mali addressed the topic of rebuilding economic dimension, explaining that in Mali, much is achieved through agriculture: by involving youth in economic dimension and educating them on violent conflict, the likelihood of engagement in conflict groups significantly decreases on the ground of better prospects for future. And, since the majority of the population in Africa is youth, the conjunction of both understanding sustainable future and opportunities to work on it are not only helping to strengthen the current economy but securing the way ahead.
It is important for the youth to engage in conflict resolution, prevention and management. If youth engages in community peacebuilding and concept development, there is a good chance for them to avoid joining conflict groups.
– Rahabel Nantoume, Youth Activist from Mali
Luate Satimon Joel Yata, a youth activist from South Sudan, reported that after a war that lasted nearly forty years, South Sudan is currently going through another conflict on the ground based on ethnic and political disagreements, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Instability of said crisis has made the area one of the most dangerous to live in. In most conflict crises and civil wars, youth is used at the frontline as means to achieve the goals of conflicting parties.
Youth plays a significant role in the promotion of peace and security. And certainly, young people can make a positive impact in about any setting. If youth can be used as a force of destruction, the same youth can be used as a force of growth.
– Luate Satimon Joel Yata, Youth Activist from South Sudan
There are many issues related to conflict and many thoughts scattered all over in times of urgent need for accountability and transparency. Anam Gill, a youth activist from Pakistan explained that due to the geopolitical position of her country, there are a lot of conflict-related issues, especially for the youth. She referenced findings from a context-specific study which describes what can be done to improve youth participation in peace-building processes:
- Supporting youths vision of peace and providing a platform to formulate and express it.
- Creating space for youth in political processes as many young people feel excluded.
- Creating and supporting dignified life, creating economic opportunities, and motivating youth to pursue peaceful ways in their lives.
- Supporting education and capacity building for peace: education has to be inclusive, keeping in mind different backgrounds. Educating people to change common misconceptions is very important for inclusivity.
- Facilitating dialogue and promoting engagement in order to connect different backgrounds to better understand the diversity of peacebuilding processes.
There is a need for accountability and transparency. Supporting youth’s vision for peace and providing them with a platform to formulate, express and exchange it in an inclusive way with respect to different backgrounds, including youth in political processes, supporting education and capacity building for peace, as well as facilitating dialogue is crucial.
– Anam Gill, Youth Activist from Pakistan
The discussion concluded with the remarks from Billy Batware who said:
Sometimes the conflict we have comes from misconceptions and misunderstandings on issues and facilitating dialogue can help to resolve that. Everyone who can make a contribution is welcome to join SOLVE.
Find out more about SOLVE here. You can also download the SOLVE Booklet here.
