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What is the Youth4Disarmament Initiative? 

It is a youth outreach initiative established in 2019 by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs to connect geographically diverse young people with experts to learn about current international security challenges, the work of the United Nations and how to actively participate.

The Mandate 

The UN General Assembly reaffirmed the important and positive contribution that young people can make in sustaining peace and security through its unanimous support of its biennial resolution on 'Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation', adopted on 12 December 2019, on 6 December 2021 and on 4 December 2023.

The United Nations General Assembly noted that engagement with young people can provide opportunities to benefit from their views, insights, and ideas.  

In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to seek specific measures to promote the meaningful and inclusive participation and empowerment of youth on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, with a view to building upon established networks and strengthening coordination and partnership with and among Member States, the United Nations, relevant specialized agencies and regional and subregional organizations, and civil society, including youth-led and youth-focused organizations.  

The United Nations General Assembly took note of the report of the Secretary-General on youth, disarmament, and non-proliferation (A/78/164), which contained the views of Member States, the United Nations, other relevant international and regional organizations and civil society organizations on the issue of the promotion of youth engagement and empowerment activities in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. The report marks the first of the Secretary-General to explore the topic of youth involvement in disarmament and non-proliferation. 

In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly recognized young people in all countries as key agents for social change, economic development, and technological innovation. 

The General Assembly resolution 76/45 requests specific measures to promote the meaningful and inclusive participation and empowerment of youth on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, including through the effective utilization of the dedicated digital platform Youth4Disarmament & token grants and awards supported by voluntary contributions. 

Resolution 76/45 also requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States, the United Nations, other relevant international and regional organizations and civil society organizations on the promotion of youth engagement and empowerment activities in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. These inputs will be outlined in a report to be submitted to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session. 

In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly reaffirmed the important and positive contribution of young people in sustaining peace and security.

The General Assembly resolution encouraged Member States, the United Nations, relevant specialized agencies and regional and subregional organizations to promote the meaningful and inclusive participation of young people in discussions in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.

In 2018, the Secretary-General also recognized young people as a tremendous force for change in the world who had “proved their power time and again in support of the cause of disarmament”.

He thus committed the Office for Disarmament Affairs, in partnership with all interested entities, to further invest in disarmament education, including through the establishment of a platform for youth engagement.

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