Joint Workshop of the State Ministry for Peace and the Mediothek Youth Network under the ‘Youth and Peace’ Title

A Joint Workshop of the State Ministry for Peace and the Mediothek Youth Network (MYN) titled ‘Youth and Peace’ was held at the State Ministry for Peace. The event was attended by Dr. Alema, Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Civil Society of the Ministry, and officials and members of the Mediothek Youth Network-Afghanistan.
Farah Mostafavi, Head of Cultural and Youth of Mediothek Afghanistan, briefed the meeting on the activities of the Mediothek Youth Network, emphasizing the popular nature of the peace process and preserving the values of the Afghan people in this process.
Basirullah Shiwan, board member of the Mediothek Youth Network, briefly shed light on the network’s activities. He said the network had organized programs and festivals for regular youth participation. He added that provincial networks had been set up to work together for youth empathy.
Mr. Shiwan stated that the Mediothek Youth Network had gathered youth’s views by holding youth discussions and meetings, which will be shared with the State Ministry for Peace. He said that the youth want to be in the context of the peace process.
Laila Jafari, Director of Political Structures and Civil Society Organizations of the SMP, presented a presentation on the State Ministry for Peace activities, particularly its role in youth engagement in the peace process.
According to Ms. Laila Jafari, establishing the Advisory and Coordination Board of Civil Society Organizations, holding youth meetings with the negotiation team, holding youth dialogues in person and online, establishing the Political Parties Contact Committee for Peace, establishing Women’s United Voice Advisory Group on Peace Policy Making, strengthening national, regional and international consensus on peace, are some actions taken by the State Ministry for Peace in which the participation of the youth has been ensured.
Dr. Alema, Acting Minister of the State Ministry for Peace and Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Civil Society of the Ministry, called the youth a responsible generation and said that a peace in which the youth and women and all strata of the society could not see themselves, is not implementable.
Dr. Alema said that in all the programs of the ministry, the youth had played a significant role, and in the future, works will also be done to involve them in peacebuilding.
Dr. Alema added that the youth, as they play a key role in development and security, can also play a vital role in the peace process and contribute to preserving the last two decades’ achievements.
She called the escalation of violence a matter of concern for the people and said that the ceasefire should be declared based on a clear mechanism, and the withdrawal of foreign troops should be based on conditions.
The Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Civil Society said that the ministry’s view is that the Doha peace negotiations should continue, and the Istanbul Conference will accelerate this process.
She also emphasized the need to reach an international consensus on the peace process, saying that a prosperous Afghanistan would bring security to the region and the world.
Zonal officials of the Mediothek Youth Network then presented information on the network’s peace and youth activities in the provinces.
They said that youth could play their role in the peace process with unity and empathy. They further stressed that youth should pay attention to remote parts of the country and gather people’s opinions.
Concluding the meeting, Ahmad Wali Ahmadi, head of Peace Programs of the Mediothek Afghanistan, said that youth should have a clear place in peace negotiations.