GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY September 22, 2026, Young people and peacebuilding stakeholders have identified key priorities for strengthening youth participation in Liberia’s peace and security efforts, with the adoption of the Nimba Resolution on Youth, Peace and Security emerging as a major outcome of the Liberia Youth Peace and Security Conference.
The resolution outlines commitments and recommendations from young people and other participants to guide implementation of Liberia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security. Other priorities emerging from the conference include expanding direct youth participation in peace and security decision-making at community and national levels, strengthening implementation of the National Action Plan in rural and conflict-affected areas, improving community-based early warning systems, and expanding access to transitional justice education, particularly for young women.
The conference was organized by the National Young Women Political Council of Liberia (NYWPCL) under the PeaceGen Liberia Project in collaboration with PeaceGen partners: (Kvinna till Kvinna, Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL, Female Journalist Association of Liberia (FeJAL), Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), Alliance for Peace, Justice and Human Rights (APJHR) ), the Liberia Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security (LCYPS), the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Liberia Peacebuilding Office.
The PeaceGen Liberia Project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Embassy of Ireland.
Held under the theme, “Advancing Youth Leadership for Peace: Strengthening the Implementation of Liberia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security,” the conference brought together young women, youth representatives, representatives of conflict-affected communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners from Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Bomi, and Sinoe counties.
Participants examined progress and challenges affecting the implementation of Liberia’s Youth, Peace and Security agenda, with discussions focusing on youth leadership, conflict prevention, transitional justice, and partnerships for sustainable peace.
Madam Laura Targbeh Korvah, President of the National Young Women Political Council of Liberia, said the selection of Nimba County as the host location was significant because of the county’s history and experience during periods of conflict and violence.
“For too long, young women and youth have watched decisions about our future being made without us in the room. This conference is a turning point it is our generation stepping forward, not as bystanders, but as leaders in building the peace we all deserve. Nimba’s history reminds us where we have been; this conference shows the world where we are going,” Madam Korvah said.
Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL, emphasized the importance of meaningful youth participation in sustaining peace, particularly the inclusion and leadership of young women. She called for young people to be recognized as active partners in peacebuilding rather than only as beneficiaries of peace initiatives.
The outcomes of the conference provide a framework for continued engagement on youth participation, community-based early warning, transitional justice education, and implementation of the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.
The conference ultimately positioned the Youth, Peace and Security agenda as an area requiring sustained action at both community and national levels, with young people playing a central role in shaping Liberia’s peacebuilding efforts.