Youth

Since the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE has recognized the contributions of young women and men to comprehensive security. Youth, who make up nearly 38 percent of the OSCE-region population, play a critical role in promoting peace and stability. OSCE commitments, including the 2018 Ministerial Council Declaration on the Role of Youth in Contribution to Peace and Security Efforts and the 2019 Framework for Strengthening OSCE Efforts on Youth and Security, provide guidance for systematically integrating youth perspectives across all three dimensions of security. These instruments ensure that young people are meaningfully engaged in policy discussions, their needs are considered, and the impacts of OSCE actions on youth are systematically assessed, reinforcing the Organization’s ability to advance peace, stability, and inclusive security throughout the region.