On August 2 and 3, 2024, the Peace and Freedom Organization conducted an activity in Erbil Governorate that witnessed a remarkable presence of young men and women from various Iraqi provinces. The proposed draft objectives for the national plan to implement Security Council Resolution 2250 in the Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were presented.

Summary of the proposed draft objectives:

● Enhancing Youth Participation: The plan aims to increase youth participation in decision-making processes at all levels within institutions.
● Building Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding: Establishing effective national and local mechanisms for conflict prevention and enhancing peacebuilding processes.
● Aligning Legislation and Policies: Aligning national legislation and policies with international laws in accordance with the specificities of society in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
● Involving Youth in Committees: Activating the role of youth in various committees to ensure their effective representation.
● Enhancing Communication Channels: Developing effective communication channels between youth and the government to ensure continuous and constructive interaction.
● Supporting Youth Organizations: Providing support to organizations and initiatives led by youth.
● Activating Youth Centers: Strengthening the role of youth centers in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
● Partnership between Civil Society and Government: Ensuring a genuine and effective partnership between civil society and the government in implementing the youth, peace, and security agenda.

The workshop concluded with a press conference in which a representative of the Peace and Freedom Organization presented the organization's vision for this agenda and proposals for its implementation in Iraq, in addition to a speech by a representative of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, "Engineer Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani," who sponsors the program for writing the national plan, along with the vision of the Kurdistan Region through its representative, "Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Youth in the Kurdistan Region," and ways to move forward in enhancing the role of youth in peacebuilding and decision-making processes.

This event comes under the project “Promoting Youth Engagement in Peace Building and Security” which is implemented by Peace and Freedom Organization in partnership with the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).