A new generation is emerging in the South Caucasus, born out of long-standing conflicts. This generation is growing up not in direct conflict, but in the silence, uncertainty, and “frozen” realities it engenders. As peacebuilding processes develop in the region, young people become active participants rather than passive observers. However, for many young people, the concept of “peace” remains distant and abstract, far removed from their everyday realities.

Over the decades, the peace and conflict processes have not only influenced the geopolitical trajectory of the South Caucasus, but have also left a lasting impact on the political, social, and psychological atmosphere of the region. Although young people in the post-war period were not direct participants in this conflict, they feel its consequences in various areas of their lives: in education, employment, social engagement, and the information space. Therefore, for many young people, “peace” is associated not only with the silence of weapons, but also with the availability of opportunities for personal and social realization. Analysis conducted within the framework of both regional dynamics and international peace and conflict transformation shows that the views and potential for participation of young people must be taken into account in order to achieve sustainable and inclusive peace.

This article explores how young people in the South Caucasus perceive peace in a post-conflict context, highlighting the paradox of their crucial yet often overlooked role in peacebuilding, as well as the existing opportunities to strengthen their participation within the post-conflict reality.

Perspectives from the South Caucasus

It can be observed that during the last decades a lot of important work has actually been done within the framework of multiple formats. A significant number of experienced and skilled youth workers, experts, and activists contributed meaningfully to the peace processes in the region and continue in this direction. It is particularly noteworthy that throughout the recent years, the views of the youth in the region have been changing positively and there are quite progressive-minded young people. Despite these advancements such a question arises: why is it still not possible to achieve a result that could play a fundamental catalytic role for the realization of peace? The answer lies in a critical issue. Unfortunately, the younger generation does not fully comprehend the meaning of  “peace”.

The majority of youth in this region understand the word “peace” only as a political term. As a result, this narrow interpretation prevents young people from understanding its broader, social and psychological dimensions. Peace is not only political negotiations or state-level agreements, but also the establishment of inter-society trust, mutual understanding and social peace. Peacebuilding is a responsibility that extends beyond the political elite and involves every individual and community within society.

According to statistical data, the population aged 15-29 constitutes a significant portion of the total population in the states of the region, accounting for 22.6% in Azerbaijan, 19% in Armenia, and 17.4% in Georgia. These figures alone provide a significant basis for their place at the peace negotiations table.

In the case of conflicts in this region, youth unlike representatives of older generations who have lived in the Soviet period have had limited opportunities for communication and have grown up in conflict-affected countries. Therefore, they are particularly vulnerable to propaganda that promotes dehumanisation and negative stereotypes, hence it is especially important for peacebuilding activities to target and engage the youth. 

In 2022, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in cooperation with regional research teams conducted study among young people aged 14-29 in all three countries of South Caucasus. The study span a critical era marked by major global shifts including post‑COVID‑19 recovery, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the September 2023 clash in Karabakh which profoundly influenced their perspectives. According to the study, Azerbaijani youth expressed a greater need for peace after the war. Survey results revealed that 65% of Azerbaijani youth emphasized the importance of ensuring peace in order to end the lingering consequences of the war. However, 45% of them believe that “peace” is possible only with a military victory and this view indicates that most young people associate peace with the return of their lands. The same study found similarly mixed views among Armenian youth: although 55% acknowledge that peace is essential for lasting stability in the region, only 15% actively support peace initiatives. Armenian youth, who have recovered from the trauma of the war, are more cautious and hesitant in approaching peace, as they are still having difficulty accepting the defeat and consequences of the war. The “Youth Study Comparative Analysis 2023” also provided important data on Georgian youth. According to this study, 60% of Georgian youth between the ages of 14 and 29 stated that it is important to ensure lasting peace in the region. However, 30% of these young people believe that the conflict continues to fuel domestic tensions and the peace is possible only through reconciliation between the parties.

International legal frameworks on youth inclusivity

UN Security Council resolutions 2250 (9 December 2015), 2419 (6 June 2018) and 2535 (10 July 2020) set out the formal legal framework for the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda.

Resolution 2250 formally recognizes youth as key actors in peace and security, urging their inclusion in decision-making, protection in conflict zones, and support for peacebuilding initiatives. The resolution calls on Member States to develop National Action Plans on YPS, consult with young people and allocate adequate resources at the local level. Resolution 2419 envisages expanding psychosocial support for youth, ensuring gender sensitivity and particularly prioritizing the special role of young women and girls in peacebuilding processes and calls for coordinated action to remove gender-based barriers and ensure the equal participation of young people. Resolution 2535 adapts the YPS agenda to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating new opportunities for youth participation in peace processes through online and digital platforms.

Although these resolutions adopted by the UN have formed the basis of the YPS agenda, they have not yet been systematically incorporated into the state policies of the South Caucasus countries and the process of preparing National Action Plans (NAPs) has not begun in these countries. There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, due to the region’s historically existing and frozen conflicts, security priorities are based mainly on military and security approaches.

As the Karabakh conflict, Abkhazia and South Ossetia issues dominate the security agenda of the states, soft security issues such as promoting youth participation in peacebuilding have taken a back seat. In addition, there is still skepticism regarding the integration of youth into decision-making processes in all three countries due to deep-rooted institutional traditions.

Another factor is institutional weakness and lack of coordination. Developing an effective action plan for the YPS requires strong cooperation between state bodies, civil society, international organizations and youth organizations. However, such cooperation mechanisms are only just beginning to develop in the region and a unified conceptual approach to the role of youth in peacebuilding has not yet been fully formed.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Eurasia Regional Human Development Report (2020) notes that financial and structural support for youth participation in the South Caucasus and Central Asia regions is limited. Finally, frequent tensions and ceasefire violations in the region undermine confidence in peace initiatives. This does not create a conducive environment for the development of long-term and inclusive initiatives such as YPS.

A Roadmap for Localizing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in the South Caucasus

Finland is well known for its rich history in conflict resolution. Distinguished by its youth participation, intergovernmental cooperation and approach based on measurable results Finland’s NAP can stand out as a benchmark for South Caucasus countries in their efforts to localize the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

Finland particularly emphasizes the importance of diverse partnerships in the implementation of the Action Plan. The basis for sustainable peace and development is the active participation of actors from different sectors of society and diverse partnerships. Establishing and strengthening relationships between different stakeholders is considered essential for conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and strengthening democracy and the rules-based multilateral system. The country aims to achieve its goals more effectively through cooperation with various actors at both the national and international levels. The effective implementation of UNSCR 2250 is only possible through sectoral and cross-sectoral cooperation and a broad network of partners. At the national level, the main partners are government agencies and ministries, academia and NGOs, including in particular youth organizations. Regular meetings of the monitoring group are expected to strengthen coordination and accountability among these actors, thereby improving the overall implementation of the action plan.

Finland's experience shows that effective results in the field of peace and security are possible not only through close cooperation with state institutions, but also with academic institutions, NGOs and especially youth organizations. All three countries (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia) should attach importance to the active involvement of various sectors - state, civil society, media, science and youth organizations - when preparing their NAPs.

The preparation of Finland’s National Action Plan began with gathering input from young people across the country on issues related to peace and security. In 2019, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs commissioned a consultation process led by the National Youth Council Allianssi, which collected the views of over 300 youth from various regions. The insights gained from these consultations were directly integrated into the final action plan. Beyond overseeing its own initiatives, the Ministry also plays a coordinating role in the plan’s implementation. Oversight and evaluation are carried out by the 2250 National Monitoring Group, composed of representatives from government bodies, academic institutions, youth organizations, and other civil society actors. Meeting three to four times annually, this group fosters collaboration on key themes of Resolution 2250 by facilitating the exchange of good practices and innovative ideas. Evaluation outcomes are reported to Parliament and reviewed by the Foreign Affairs Committee. Relevant stakeholders are encouraged to develop yearly action plans tailored to their sectors to support effective execution of the strategy. Additionally, Finland commits to fulfilling international reporting obligations related to the implementation of UNSCR 2250.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been funding the work of Finnish NGOs for a number of years in conflict and reconstruction situations in line with Resolution 2250. In the country, increasing young people's civic engagement is one of the key priorities of the National Democracy Programme and the National Child Strategy and the right to participate is enshrined in the Finnish Constitution.

The Arab YPS Strategy as a Framework for the South Caucasus

The Arab Regional Strategy on Youth, Peace and Security is a good example of developing a joint regional strategy that includes all three countries of the South Caucasus in a similar context. This joint regional strategy for the Arab countries aims to promote the YPS agenda in the region, based on the five pillars of resolution 2250 (Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnerships, Disengagement & Reintegration), and serves as a joint NAP for the countries of the region. It was developed in 2022 with the joint support of the League of Arab States, UNFPA, UNDP, UNESCO and other partners. This document could inspire the creation of a similar YPS cooperation platform at the regional level between Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in the South Caucasus, as it proposes a model based on regional cooperation.

The strategy was created through an extended, inclusive consultation process that involved various stakeholders. Initially, efforts focused on raising awareness about the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda and then input was gathered regarding the core principles and priorities for the strategy. More than 300 young individuals participated in this process, alongside representatives from Youth and Sports Ministries of member states, as well as experts from the United Nations and other partner organizations.

In the South Caucasus model, a local context analysis could be conducted in all three countries, especially in conflict-affected areas, with the participation of youth and government officials. Needs and concerns should be collected through surveys and focus groups to make the strategy more relevant to the realities of the region.

Also, in the Arab model, this strategy, which includes the participation of the Ministries of Youth and Sports from 11 countries, 24 youth representatives and UN agencies, has increased the connection between ministries, youth and different structures. The YPS Platform could be established for the South Caucasus in a similar way for development at the regional level, where the ministries of the three countries and various related structures are represented.

The League of Arab States organized an online dialogue during 2022 in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Peacebuilding and Political Affairs (DPPA) Office to the League of Arab States and the United Nations Innovation Cell, using an interactive platform to reach a diverse group of young women and men across the Arab Region. The invitation was circulated through the League of Arab States and participation was open to any young people in the Arab Region between the ages of 18-29. The interactive survey focused on exploring young people’s perspectives on what peace and security mean to them, the key challenges they encounter, and their ideas for building more peaceful and secure communities. This model can be effectively applied in the South Caucasus to identify young people’s perspectives and needs related to peace and security through collected data.

YPAD Analysis

Although young people globally constitute an important group as both participants and victims of conflict and peacebuilding processes, the YPAD study “References to Youth in Peace Agreements, 1990–2022” shows that their inclusion in formal peace negotiations and agreements is still very limited. Only 12% of peace agreements concluded between 1990 and 2022 refer to young people, and more than half of these references appear within only one sub-theme. These results are also significant in the context of the South Caucasus. In the South Caucasus, youth participation is more symbolic, project-based, and short-term. This highlights the need for youth in the region to be seen not only as “audiences at events,” but also as participants in the formation of political decisions.

The conclusion from the YPAD analysis is that for peace initiatives in the South Caucasus to be successful and sustainable, it is important to include youth in the process not only as objects, but also as subjects. This is possible not only by referring to youth in legal documents, but also by ensuring their active participation in structured dialogues, transitional justice mechanisms, and social rehabilitation programs.

Moreover, it is noteworthy that, platforms such as Search for Common Ground (SfCG) and the Peaceful Change Initiative (PCi) have implemented several initiatives within the framework of cooperation with local actors based on the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 in the region.

Steps toward a sustainable future of peacebuilding in the South Caucasus

Recently, a number of important steps have been taken between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which give hope for peace and create a positive environment for youth participation in the process. In March 2025, officials from both countries announced that they had reached an agreement on the text of a peace treaty to end the nearly 30-year conflict. 

In turn, Georgia, is also actively participating in regional meetings aimed at promoting peace and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In October 2023, as part of the Silk Road Forum held in Tbilisi, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili organized a trilateral meeting bringing together the prime ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia. This meeting demonstrated that Georgia is playing an active role in the peace process. In January 2025, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili stated at a press conference in Yerevan that Georgia is ready to mediate in this process.

These steps indicate significant progress towards establishing long-term peace not only between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but also in the entire region. The emerging positive environment also brings to the agenda the issue of involving youth in the peace process, as the current phase of negotiations increasingly encompasses not only formal state-level agreements but also the crucial dimensions of building mutual trust and fostering dialogue between societies.