Swimming upstream:  Congolese Youth Success Implementing UNSCR2250 at the National Decision-making Level

Bio:

Marie-Rose Tshite is the national coordinator of YALI-RDC, a Congolese youth-led, non-profit network promoting leadership in civic engagement, public governance, and entrepreneurship. She consults and volunteers on youth issues for local and international organizations. Her research interests include women and youth civic and political participation and engagement in decision-making. 

Summary 

The presenter will showcase how youth in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are not only demanding more active roles in shaping their country’s future but have also taken initiatives on the ground that have led to the creation of the National Secretary for the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 in the DRC. Attendees will follow the inward journey of youth-led associations from working separately to coming together and associating youth in remote zones in creative ways and informal discussions to put pressure on youth, peace, and security agenda in the DRC. Here is the link to the presentation: 👇

Abstract 

This presentation will showcase an ongoing, four-year involvement of young women and men from diverse backgrounds and associations coming together as one body to make their voices heard. After several years of portraying youth as either victims or perpetrators of violence, their lobbying and advocacy messages for more recognition of their work efforts on maintaining and promoting peace and security in the D.R. Congo finally reached national officials.

What began as the simple participation of one young Congolese woman in the UNSCR2250 Western and Central consultation on youth, peace, and security in Benin in 2017 transitioned into a collective understanding and appropriation of that UN Resolution by many other Congolese youth-led organizations. This was translated into collaborative work, sharing content information on the Resolution in French, an outreach campaign using the Youth Social Media Toolkit 2250, and in-person restitution conferences.

The United Youth Peacebuilders Network (UNOY) and Search for Common Ground (2016) guide to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2250 at the local and national levels will lead participants through the Congolese youth inward journey from not knowing enough about the youth, peace, and security resolution in 2017 and from isolated actions to meaningful partnerships and achievement in 2021. The audience will learn about the initial restitution session in 2017 that demonstrated how youth discovered or developed their knowledge about the resolution. This resulted in the creation of the Congolese National Technical secretary for implementing the UNSCR2250 in the RDC due to collaborative work done by many youth organizations within four years. The presenter will share youth initiatives that will be shared with the audience, including spreading the message of UNSCR 2250 through (1) Congolese youth and UN Resolution 2250 outreach advocacy campaign addressed to policy-makers and relevant government officials, (2) the growth of recent Congolese youth movements, and (3) youth participation challenging the political and electoral process. Notwithstanding setbacks, the presenter will share her reflections on how young people’s engagement in the DRC has become a tangible reality. 

Participants will witness the positive contributions in civic engagement and conflict prevention that have been seen as very important steps towards full participation in peace and security issues. They organized panel discussions, youth forums, debates, and networking sessions, wrote a blog post to partners on the topic, and organized youth leadership camps to introduce the resolution to members of different organizations, activists, and youth from different backgrounds. Creating and sharing content via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) resulted in 306 youth being sensitized, 10 outreach and exchange sessions being organized, and 105 profiles of Congolese youth leaders being published on Facebook pages as suggested by the Youth Social Media Toolkit 2250. Therefore, if young people are engaged as peacebuilders and participate actively in ensuring sustainable peace and economic prosperity, they must also be regarded as stakeholders in this process.

References:

UNSCR 2250 – A TOOLKIT FOR YOUTH 

UNSCR 2250 – a Toolkit for Youth | Search for Common Ground (sfcg.org)

UNSCR 2250 | Introduction

UNSCR 2250 | Introduction (youth4peace.info)

 A GUIDE TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2250

A GUIDE TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2250 (unoy.org)

www.yalirdc.org