Community 

The panel focused on addressing the root causes of conflicts and building a peaceful, inclusive, and just society at local and national levels. The speakers shared diverse perspectives on this crucial topic.

Anastasia emphasized the need to recenter peace in education and our value systems, as conflicts are often portrayed as needing to be "won" rather than resolved peacefully. She stressed the importance of humility and open-mindedness in understanding complex conflicts.

Tiger Rai, representing the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IYSP), spoke about the need for a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to conflict resolution. He shared his personal journey of addressing inner conflicts before being able to contribute to peace in his community.

Aitolgon Boronbaeva highlighted how engaging young migrants as experts on migration policies can leverage their unique perspectives and experiences to promote social inclusion and prevent conflicts stemming from marginalization.

Anil shared the inspiring story of civil society leader Shah Rafayet in Bangladesh. During recent student protests, Shah used social media to raise global awareness, while also mobilizing on-the-ground efforts to restore order and aid vulnerable populations. Anil emphasized the crucial role of civil society, especially youth, in addressing the root causes of conflicts.

The speakers also discussed the importance of youth engagement in policymaking, with suggestions to develop youth policy capacity through initiatives like research, public debate, and leveraging new media platforms. Anil connected this discussion to the Pact of the Future, stating that youth engagement is critical to building peaceful, inclusive and just societies, as specified in the Pact.

Overall, the panel emphasized the need for a multifaceted, inclusive, and proactive approach to building lasting peace, with a focus on addressing root causes, empowering youth, and harnessing the power of civil society.