Young people and UN officials take part in a Peace Circle as part of the Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful campaign in September 2025. Credit: UN
UN Department of Global Communications - Peace is not done to young people, it is built with them
The Department of Global Communications (DGC) supports youth by actively elevating their voices, mobilizing their agency, and advocating for their rights across its global platforms. Through targeted, multilingual content production, DGC advocates for systemic, long-term investments in young people by spotlighting the urgent challenges they face¡ªfrom the devastating impacts of conflict to global poverty¡ªand celebrating their resilience and leadership in advancing peace.
The Department utilizes global advocacy to engage youth directly, moving beyond tokenism, in multilateral processes and community mobilization. A flagship example is the Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World campaign, which demands meaningful inclusion and positions young people as partners of lasting peace. Moreover, DGC builds robust partnerships and enhances youth capacity through its expansive educational and outreach programmes.
Ultimately, the Department¡¯s partnership with young people is diverse, cross-cutting, and deeply meaningful, recognizing that sustained investment in and collaboration with youth is essential to building the future they will inherit and shape.
We asked the Department five quick questions to learn about their vision and impact!
Why are young people key to building lasting peace?
From classrooms to conflict zones, young people are already actively building lasting peace. They are volunteers, activists, and peacebuilders¡ªserving on the frontlines every day as co-architects of a better world.
The mandate for governments and the international community is clear: recognize their agency, end tokenism and bring them to the table as true partners in decision-making.
Sarra Messaoudi from the Middle East and North Africa Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security briefs the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security. Credit: UN Photo
What¡¯s the one key thing that young people are doing today that gives you hope for peace?
Insights gathered through the Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World campaign reveal a clear shift that gives us hope: young people are actively challenging the status quo.
They are rejecting tokenism, making it clear that current systems are not fully fit to address their realities. They don't want to fix what is broken; they want to build systems that work. They see peace not as a distant treaty, but as tangible community action that encompasses everything from jobs and mental health to online safety. Their vision is forward-looking, solutions-oriented, and demands transparency and accountability.
Young leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals wait to meet the UN Secretary-General. Credit: UN Photo
If you could bust one myth about youth, what would it be?
Myth: Young people are apathetic or disengaged from global challenges.
Reality: The exact opposite.
Young people aren't disengaged¡ªthey are justifiably rejecting broken systems and tokenism. When you stop handing them a pre-written script and instead invite them to be true partners in decision-making, their agency and commitment are unmatched.
A UN Volunteer with children at Jordan¡¯s Zatari camp. DGC works with the UN System to use storytelling to communicate the agency and resilience of youth. Credit: UNV
What is a ¡®youth superpower' you've witnessed firsthand, where and how?
Agency is young people's superpower. At DGC, we see this power driving real change. As the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, , "Around the world, young people are leading impactful grassroots movements. Their work is bold, necessary, and deeply inspiring."
Their leadership is proof that progress begins with those who dare to act¡ªand their impact is lighting the path forward for us all.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming (left) joins a youth-led Peace Circle during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Credit: Jake Concoran
What's one action anyone, anywhere, can take to support youth's contribution to peace?
Truly hear them¡ªactively listen to their ideas, their vision and their solutions. Stop giving them broken systems to fix but ask them ¡°how might we build this better together?¡±
It starts with passing the mic and recognizing that the hard, necessary work of community resilience requires their leadership at the center of the table.
Join the Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World¡ªa movement led by young people in partnership with the Â鶹APP.