Georgian youth’s voice at the heart of global peacebuilding

With support from UN Women Georgia, young peace builder Tiko Lagvilava represented Georgia and the Network of Women and Youth Peace Ambassadors at the Second European Union Conference on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS).

The conference, held from 10 to 14 November in Brussels, was dedicated to the tenth anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) and brought together more than 120 young peacebuilders from around the world to reflect on a decade of progress and to co-shape the future of the YPS agenda.

Tiko delivered opening remarks during the high-level launch event, which was streamed live on the European Commission platform. In her address, she underscored the urgency of meaningful youth participation in political and peacebuilding processes. “Young people are not just the future - we are shaping peace today,” she emphasized, calling for inclusive decision-making and sustained investment in youth-led initiatives, particularly those spearheaded by young women.

Throughout the Conference, Tiko participated in 16 thematic and foresight sessions, presenting her perspectives on gender equality and sustainable peace, as well as actively engaging in different discussions further contributing to the Joint Declaration of Young Peacebuilders. The Declaration is a forward-looking document adopted at the conclusion of the conference and recognized as an important youth-led contribution to shaping Europe’s peace and security agenda.

The Declaration places particular emphasis on integrating the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda into all YPS commitments, underscoring that gender equality, women’s leadership, and the protection of women and girls must be non-negotiable pillars of peacebuilding policy. It calls on relevant actors to make targeted investments in supporting young women peacebuilders, including measures to prevent gender-based violence and ensure the systematic inclusion of women’s rights organizations in peace and security processes at the national, and international levels.

The declaration also introduces a significant EU enlargement–related amendment, urging EU institutions and Member States to embed YPS and WPS principles into the enlargement process.

One of the forward-looking initiatives discussed by Tiko with peers during the conference was the creation of a YPS Coalition for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. This proposed coalition will aim to strengthen collaboration among youth networks, civil society and governments in EaP countries to advance the YPS agenda regionally. The coalition would serve as a platform for sharing best practices, coordinating advocacy and ensuring that commitments made at the EU level translate into tangible action at national and local levels. Georgia, with its active youth peacebuilding community and strong engagement in the WPS agenda, is expected to play a leading role in shaping this coalition and promoting inclusive, gender-responsive approaches to peace and security.

“Participating in the EU YPS Conference was a transformative experience for me,” Tiko reflected. “I gained practical insights on how youth can influence policy and learned innovative approaches to integrate gender equality and youth perspectives into peacebuilding. Moving forward, I plan to apply these lessons by strengthening youth networks in Georgia and contributing to the creation of an Eastern Partnership YPS Coalition” - Tiko noted.

The Second EU YPS Conference convened representatives of EU institutions, Member States, civil society organizations and youth networks to jointly shape the next phase of peace and security policymaking. Discussions centered on inclusive governance, climate-related security risks, gender equality and the sustainable funding of youth-led initiatives. The conference concluded with a road map outlining Team Europe’s coordinated vision for advancing the YPS agenda, ensuring that young people remain essential partners in global peacebuilding.

Tiko’s peace activism and participation are supported through the UN Women Georgia project “Women Act for Peace and Security”, implemented with financial support from the UK Government, and the regional programme “Women’s Increased Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies” supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. These initiatives provide the foundation for Tiko and young people’s continued efforts to ensure that young women’s voices are central in shaping inclusive governance and peace processes.