Over 100 young Liberians, women, government representatives, civil society actors, and development partners gathered in Ganta City, Nimba County, for the Liberia Youth, Peace and Security Conference. The event, organized under the PeaceGen Project, aimed to strengthen the participation and leadership of women and young people in peacebuilding, transitional justice, and accountability processes. The conference focused on advancing youth leadership for peace and strengthening the implementation of Liberia's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.
The conference brought together participants from across the country, including young women, women from peace hut structures, and youth groups. Executive Director of the Liberia Peacebuilding Office, Sheikh Kamara, emphasized that giving young people a seat at the table is not enough; their voices must be heard when decisions about peace and Liberia's future are made. Kamara challenged participants to transform discussions into practical recommendations that can be implemented in communities.
Nimba County was chosen as the host due to its significant place in Liberia's conflict history, making Ganta a symbolic setting for young Liberians to reflect on the country's past while discussing their responsibility for its 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 engaged in discussions on Liberia's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS) 2025–2030, 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 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.
The role of young women emerged as a major theme, with Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), stressing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the meaningful participation and leadership of young people, particularly young women. The discussions placed emphasis on rural youth, persons with disabilities, conflict-affected communities, and other groups that remain underrepresented in national decision-making.
The conference concluded with a call for youth ownership of the national Youth, Peace and Security agenda. Participants emphasized that peace begins beyond the conference hall and that young people must be recognized as leaders and partners in building peace. The event provided a platform for young Liberians to demand a greater voice in shaping the country's future and to call for meaningful participation and leadership in peace and security decisions.
Key points
- The conference aimed to strengthen the participation and leadership of women and young people in peacebuilding, transitional justice, and accountability processes.
- Participants called for the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security to be implemented at the county, community, and local levels.
- The European Union emphasized the need for young women and men to shape decisions and lead peacebuilding efforts in Liberia.
