THE Youth Peace Forum, themed “Promoting Youth Participation in Peace and Nation-Building” took place at the Myanmar International Convention Centre I (MICC I) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Speaking
at the event, State Security and Peace Commission Member, National Solidarity
and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee Chairman and Union Minister Lt-Gen Yar
Pyae stated that the youths attending the Youth Peace Forum 2026 have now been
able to integrate peace with their real lives, responsibilities, and
aspirations for the future. He added that the forum’s theme is “Promoting Youth
Participation in Peace and Nation-Building”, and the young people, as future
leaders, need to understand and accept fundamental values of peace, including
respect for each individual’s language and culture, prioritizing truth and
reconciliation without hate speech, and maintaining a mindset that views
diversity as a source of national strength. As economic development and
technology are the foundation of peace, the urban youths and young
technologists need to discuss how to promote entrepreneurship, digital
economies, AI-based services, and other economic and technological platforms,
and how to collectively seek solutions. Creating good economic opportunities
for all young people is the best way to build peace.
He
continued that creating a favourable economic environment, which is an
essential need for every citizen for peace, will create high-quality human
resources. Social media can be a platform for spreading hate speech, but it can
also serve as a space for building unity, reconciliation, and mutual
understanding. Regarding the forum’s expectations, the Youth Peace Declaration
to be produced from this forum would become a practical guide incorporating the
real needs, goals, and commitments of young people. It will serve not only as a
network for understanding but as a linkage for active cooperation. He then
urged participants to carry the outcomes of the Peace Forum back to their
respective regions so that they may spread among youth and government, and
between the government and the public.
National
Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee Secretary then Lt-Gen Min
Naing briefed on the intention of holding the Youth Peace Forum 2026 and systematic
preparations to be the national level and a fair platform for all
participation. He also stated that the forum brings together young people from
diverse ethnicities, regions, cultures, and social backgrounds to share their
views, highlight the importance of youth participation and actions in peace and
community stability, create opportunities for young people, and gather youth
recommendations for drafting a long-term, sustainable peace and national unity
and social development roadmap, and to identify the practical roles of youth in
the post-election period.
On
the first day of the forum, under the theme of passing on the legacy of peace
to youth and promoting a peaceful society, peace-related presentations and
surveys will be conducted with at least 22 young participants from various
regions.
On
the second day, 10 experienced representatives, including scholars, skilled
youth professionals, young experts, and ministry officials, will discuss
designated topics, while 320 youth representatives will be divided into four
groups for in-depth discussions. It will also include flash competitions and an
awards ceremony.
On
the third day, which is the most important part of the forum, activities will
include forming and linking youth networks, presenting and discussing
network-based plans and proposals, expert feedback on discussions, and
evaluation and awards for proposals. The recommendations and outcomes will be
systematically compiled to enable the drafting of a youth policy paper for
building the future of Myanmar, based on the Peace and Future Youth Declaration
and the Youth Peace Forum.
Afterwards,
participants in peace processes engaged in the discussion under different
topics, and the youth representatives discussed reducing and halting armed
conflicts and conducted flash surveys to gather youth opinions on peace-related
issues.
The
forum will continue on 14 January.
MNA/KTZH
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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