ENGAGING YOUTH IN PEACEBUILDING: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND UKRAINIAN PRACTICES

The article examines the role of youth as active agents in peacebuilding in the context of armed conflicts and post-conflict recovery. It provides an overview of international approaches and practices for involving young people in peace processes, including the experiences of the Balkan countries and Colombia, and highlights the Ukrainian realities and policies in this sphere. The study finds that youth have traditionally been viewed either as victims or as factors of instability in conflicts, but contemporary research and global initiatives (e.g., UN Security Council Resolution 2250) emphasize the potential of youth as powerful peacebuilders. The contribution of youth movements and organizations to reconciliation and the restoration of social cohesion in post-conflict settings is analyzed: youth have played key roles in bridging divided communities in the Balkans and in supporting the peace process in Colombia. Special attention is given to the state of Ukrainian public policy regarding youth participation in peacebuilding – revealing gaps in previous programs where youth were scarcely represented – and outlining prospects for enhancing youth involvement in Ukraine’s post-war recovery. The findings underscore the need to institutionalize youth participation in peace processes, to leverage their capacity as agents of positive change, and to implement international best practices for developing a comprehensive youth peacebuilding policy in Ukraine.