Elina Valtonen (centre), the Foreign Minister of Finland, with youth representatives at the launch of Finland's second Youth, Peace and Security National Action Plan in December 2025. Credit: MFA Finland
Finland ¨C advancing the youth, peace and security agenda
Lasting peace cannot be achieved without the voices and support of young people - a reality formally recognized by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Security Council in 2015 with the landmark .
Since that historic adoption, has stood at the forefront of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. Blazing the trail as the first country to implement a National Action Plan (NAP), Finland continues its leadership today by co-chairing the Group of Champions of YPS and launching (2025¨C2028) to ensure youth remain at the heart of global peace and security efforts.
We asked Finland five questions to learn why young people¡¯s full, safe and meaningful participation strengthens the resilience of societies, contributes to long-term stability and helps counter today¡¯s challenges.
What is your main area of work with youth?
Finland is one the pioneers of the YPS agenda and was the first country in the world to adopt a YPS NAP in 2021. Finland?s second NAP was launched in 2025. In New York, Finland co-chairs, together with Jordan, the Group of Champions of YPS. The group of over 30 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States advances collaboration, political commitment, and implementation of the YPS agenda globally.
Why are young people key to building lasting peace?
Young people make up a significant share of the population in many conflict-affected contexts, making their participation crucial for the legitimacy and sustainability of peace processes. Their full, safe and meaningful participation strengthens the resilience of societies, contributes to long-term stability and helps counter today¡¯s challenges.
Name one way your organization empowers young people to become agents of peace.
As the Group of Champions, we empower young people by bringing Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States together to advance the YPS agenda, promote youth inclusion in decision-making, and provide technical support.
Nationally, Finland implements its YPS National Action Plans to strengthen youth participation in peace and security, support youth-led initiatives, and foster cooperation between authorities and civil society.
What¡¯s the one key thing that young people are doing today that gives you hope for peace?
Young people's leadership in building coalitions and bridging divides across communities, sectors, and borders, while creating inclusive networks that foster dialogue, trust, and cooperation. Through meaningful engagement, young people bring diverse perspectives, strengthen social cohesion, promote mutual understanding, and drive collective action to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace at local, national, and international level.
Finish this sentence: Youth are powerful because¡
Youth are powerful because their leadership, creativity, innovation, and partnerships drive inclusive solutions and strengthen peace and resilience across communities, countries, and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system.
Join the Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World¡ªa movement led by young people in partnership with the United Nations.