Young leaders from five counties have called for greater youth involvement in decisions on peace, security and national development.
The call came Monday, September 21, at the Liberia Youth, Peace and Security Conference 2026 in Ganta, Nimba County.
The conference was organized by the National Young Women Political Council of Liberia (NYWPCL), in partnership with PeaceGen implementing partners and other national stakeholders.
Held under the theme, “Advancing Youth Leadership for Peace: Strengthening the Implementation of Liberia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security,” the meeting brought together young people, government officials, civil society groups and development partners.
The conference is being held under the PeaceGen Project, funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Embassy of Ireland.
Zoltan Szalai, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, said young people should have a direct role in decisions that affect their future.
“The time has come for young women and men not only to be heard, but to shape decisions and lead action for peace,” Szalai said.
He said the conference could help turn Liberia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security into action, particularly in rural and communities affected by conflict.
Participants from Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, Bomi and Sinoe counties discussed youth leadership, conflict prevention, community peacebuilding, transitional justice and the implementation of the national Youth, Peace and Security plan.
Laura Targbeh, President of the National Young Women Political Council of Liberia, said young people should no longer be left out of decisions about their future.
“For too long, young women and youth have watched decisions about our future being made without us in the room,” Targbeh said.
“This conference is a turning point—it is our generation stepping forward, not as bystanders, but as leaders in building the peace we all deserve,” she added.
A major outcome of the conference is the expected adoption of the Nimba Resolution on Youth, Peace and Security, which will outline commitments and recommendations from young people and other participants.
Abdullah Oldpa Bility, Co-Chair of the Liberia Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, said implementation of the national action plan must receive the same attention as its adoption.
“The YPS agenda gives young people a platform for our voices to be heard and our contributions to be recognized and legitimized,” Bility said.
He urged stakeholders to move the agenda beyond policy documents and into communities.
“It’s a youth agenda, and young people should be empowered to lead its implementation. There is nothing for youth without youth,” he said.
Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), said young people, especially young women, must have a greater role in peacebuilding.
“Peace cannot be sustained without the meaningful participation and leadership of young people, particularly young women,” Yango said.
“We must move beyond recognizing young people as beneficiaries of peacebuilding to fully recognizing them as leaders and partners,” she added.
In remarks delivered on behalf of WONGOSOL, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and other PeaceGen partners, Yango also called for stronger implementation of Liberia’s Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security agendas.
The groups urged the government to create more opportunities for young people and women to take part in peace and security decisions, support youth- and women-led peacebuilding efforts, strengthen early warning systems and expand transitional justice education.
They also called for regular reviews of government commitments so young people and civil society can track progress and raise concerns where implementation falls short.
The PeaceGen Project, which runs until January 2029, is funded by the European Union with support from the Embassy of Ireland and implemented by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation with national partners.
The project supports peacebuilding, dialogue, advocacy and community activities aimed at increasing the participation of women and young people in Liberia’s peace and reconciliation efforts.
