Conversation on youth inclusion, disarmament and peacebuilding during Peacebuilding Week. Credit: UN Video
Shaping a peaceful future: A conversation on youth inclusion, disarmament and peacebuilding
During the world’s first-ever Peacebuilding Week (22 to 26 June), Nurullo Rasulov, a alumnus and journalist, led a conversation with Ambassador Jihoon Cha, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the 91茄子, and the UN High Representative for , Izumi Nakamitsu.
“We are marking UN Peacebuilding Week 2026 at a time for urgent action as the international community seeks to build a more resilient and peaceful world,” said Rasulov, one of the many youth disarmament advocates lending their voice and support to the UN’s efforts for a world free of weapons.
Peacebuilding Week is a time to observe the importance of investing in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, particularly for countries and territories that are struggling to rebuild their communities in the aftermath of conflict and crisis.
The Peacebuilding Fund, since its inception 20 years ago has supported many youth-led peacebuilding initiatives around the world, amplifying their roles and impact at the community, national and regional levels.
“Disarmament is an indispensable instrument for peacebuilding,” said Nakamitsu. “By restricting, reducing, regulating arms circulation, and preventing proliferation of arms in different parts of the world, disarmament contributes a lot to conflict prevention but also to finding solutions to armed conflict and violence.”
Ambassador Cha and UN High Representative Nakamitsu take part in the conversation. Credit: UN Video
Youth agency and resilience
Centering on youth agency and resilience, the conversation focused on celebrating the contributions of young peacebuilders, looking at disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons as central to preventing and sustaining peace and security, and showcasing the international community’s support for youth inclusion.
“Young people are key stakeholders in advancing peace and security and disarmament,” said Ambassador Cha. “It is both a moral imperative and also a strategic necessity for the young generation to participate in advancing the safety and security and disarmament.”
Today, half of the world’s population is under the age of 30. Many young people are leading change in their communities, whether through disarmament, peacebuilding or climate action, shifting the traditional narrative that they are merely victims of wars or beneficiaries of aid. Despite efforts, including the UN’s commitment to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda that sees youth as equal partners in building global peace - many young people remain excluded from discussions and decisions that impact their lives and livelihoods.
“Globally, young people are not merely passive observers,” added Rasulov. “They are active peacebuilders from grassroots advocacy to cutting edge research and community mobilization. Youth are already transforming the peace and security landscape.”
Disarmament advocate Rasulov leads the conversation. Credit: UN Video
Youth advocacy at a time of rising global military spending
The conversation came at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, deepening mistrust, and accelerating crises that are affecting every region of the world. Amid these challenges, global military spending continued to rise, outpacing investments in peace, human rights and development - including in lifesaving humanitarian response, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, disarmament and sustainable development.
Latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that in 2025, world military expenditure reached nearly $2.9 trillion, an increase of 2.9 per cent in real terms from 2024, and the eleventh year of consecutive growth.
Despite the troubling shifting priorities triggered by global insecurity and distrust, Ambassador Cha said “investment in young people is investment in our future - a better, peaceful and stable future.”
“Education, empowerment and engagement of the young generation in peace and security is not only relevant, but indispensable,” he added.
The conversation generated a clear, unified message for policymakers and partners: Disarmament and non-proliferation cannot be achieved without the generation that will inherit these global systems and challenges.
“The key message is that youth participation should be the norm rather than exception,” Nakamitsu stressed, challenging policymakers to look beyond temporary initiatives.
“It has to be a very strategic and systematic pathway to make sure that younger people come and participate and the impact will be carried forward.”
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As part of the first-ever UN Peacebuilding Week, the youth-led high-level dialogue convened by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs explores youth inclusion, disarmament and peacebuilding.