The Policy Paper “A further youth commitment to promote peace and non-violence” aims at defining the role of youth organisations and young people in the promotion of non-violence and peace. To this purpose, it identifies some contexts in which young people and youth organisations can further commit to building a culture of peace and some useful tools that they can base their efforts upon.

The paper embraces a manifold concept of peace and non-violence, framing it within a human-rights based approach. On the one hand it refers to the rejection of armed violence, on the other hand it also includes many other values such as the respect and promotion of diversity, fundamental rights, solidarity, environmental sustainability and global justice. Embracing peace therefore entails counteracting what undermines these values such as the rise of extremist ideologies, hate speech, discrimination, prejudices and stereotypes, intolerance, violence, poverty and the scarcity of and unequal access to natural resources. It also implies being aware of global challenges and a willingness to address them.

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New information and communication technologies have become central for the work of youth organisations as they entail emerging opportunities for young people to participate in the society they live in. In the Policy Paper ‘A youth perspective on e-society” the YFJ identified three points in the discourse on e-society that are of importance for young people. This includes addressing the “ digital divide”, discussing the efficiency of eparticipation tools, and tackling the possibility to promote democracy and freedom of speech through new information and communication technologies. Furthermore the paper puts forward recommendations and proposed actions towards the different stakeholders the have an influence on the role of young people in esociety.

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