More than 100 young Liberians from across the country gathered in Ganta City, Nimba County, on September 21 for the Liberia Youth, Peace and Security Conference. The conference, organized under the PeaceGen Project, focused on strengthening the participation and leadership of women and young people in peacebuilding, transitional justice, and accountability processes. The event was funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia. Young people emphasized the need for a seat at the table and to be heard in discussions on Liberia's peace and security future.
The conference placed young people at the center of discussions on conflict prevention, transitional justice, reconciliation, social cohesion, and decision-making. Participants, including young women, women from peace hut structures, government representatives, and civil society actors, engaged in discussions on Liberia's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS) 2025–2030. The plan aims to promote youth leadership and participation in peacebuilding efforts. Executive Director of the Liberia Peacebuilding Office, Sheikh Kamara, challenged participants to transform discussions into practical recommendations that can be implemented in communities.
Nimba County was chosen as the host of the conference due to its significant place in Liberia's conflict history. The county's past serves as a reminder of Liberia's turbulent history, while the conference demonstrates the determination of young people to participate in shaping the country's future. Laura Targbeh Korvah, President of the National Young Women Political Council of Liberia, said the gathering represented an opportunity for a generation that has often watched decisions being made without its participation.
Participants from Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Bomi, and Sinoe Counties discussed youth leadership, conflict prevention, transitional justice, and partnerships for sustainable peace. Theophilus Gippley, a representative of the Liberia Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, emphasized the need for actionable conclusions and resolutions from the conference. Gippley called for the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security to move from the national level to counties, communities, and local zones, allowing young people to participate directly in its implementation.
The European Union also called for greater youth participation in decisions affecting Liberia's future. Zoltan Szalai, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, said young women and men should not only be heard but should have opportunities to shape decisions and lead peacebuilding efforts. The conference aimed to translate Liberia's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security into tangible results, particularly in rural and conflict-affected communities.
Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), stressed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the meaningful participation and leadership of young people, particularly young women. She called for a shift away from treating young people merely as beneficiaries of peacebuilding initiatives. Young people must be recognized as leaders and partners in building peace, as reflected in the participation of young women from peace hut structures and other youth groups at the conference.
The discussions also placed emphasis on rural youth, persons with disabilities, conflict-affected communities, and other groups that remain underrepresented in national decision-making. For Viola Cooper, one of the participants, peace begins beyond the conference hall. The conference served as a turning point for young Liberians to step forward as leaders in building the peace they deserve. The outcome of the conference will be closely watched to see if it leads to concrete actions and changes in Liberia's peace and security landscape.
Key points
- Young Liberians demand meaningful participation in peace and security discussions.
- The conference aimed to translate Liberia's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security into tangible results.
- Sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the meaningful participation and leadership of young people, particularly young women.
