Invitation to Scouts: Join the Global Youth Call to Stop the Wars, Save Lives, Invest in Peace!

4 минуты

By Paul Klahre, WOSM Youth Representative

Every young person has the right to live in peace: conditions in which we feel safe, can grow up in dignity, and develop our full potential. As Scouts, we strive for peace and stand up for peace when it is most needed.

All forms of violence and military escalation are harmful to young people - yet nearly 1 in 4 are affected by armed conflict globally. We cannot remain silent about the devastating consequences of the ever-increasing military escalation around the world. The world needs to end wars, save lives, and invest in lasting peace - now more than ever. And as a global movement of young peace-builders, Scouts can make a difference.

A fleur de lis made by Scouts sitting on the grass
Авторские права (Copyright)
World Scout Bureau

World Scouting Joins the Global Youth Call for Peace

In fulfilling our duty to promote peace, World Scouting Youth Representatives have been involved in co-drafting a global youth campaign with the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security to mobilize the voices of millions of young people for global peace. 

In the "Global Youth Call: End War, Save Lives, Invest in Peace," we call for 3 key actions for which we will hold world leaders accountable: 

  • Silence the guns, end all forms of violence and military aggression, and protect all life.
  • Build lasting peace through inclusive dialogue, justice, human rights, and equal application of international law.
  • Rebalance 10% of military expenditure towards greater investments in social infrastructures, such as non-formal education and peacebuilding, including youth-led efforts.

As the world’s largest educational youth movement, World Scouting is a global stakeholder for peace and every one of its members an agent for peace. We aim to raise awareness about the devastating effects of armed conflict and the chances of investing in young people’s peace-building capacities. We are driven by the fundamental belief that young people contribute to positive change and can co-create a peaceful world. And over the past 100 years, we have witnessed the power of young people’s actions in areas such as humanitarian action, community service, local mediation, climate action, diversity and inclusion, and interfaith work. 

Your Voice Matters! Join the Campaign.

We encourage all Scouts, National Scout Organizations and young people worldwide to join the #YouthWantPeace campaign by signing the Global Youth Call: Stop the Wars, Save Lives, Invest in Peace.

 

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

 

Through the Scout Method and activities, we promote values such as respect and tolerance, intercultural understanding, inclusivity and diversity, dialogue, justice, peaceful and non-violent conflict resolution, active citizenship, global solidarity and cooperation. We are equipping young people with skills to contribute to long-lasting peace.

Scouting provides a space for young people to experience what’s possible: living together in peace.

We unite around a common goal to create a better world with all our diversity in languages, cultural identities, faiths and beliefs, nationalities, and more. We embrace our diversity, mutual respect and understanding as a way of learning and acting to live together in peace.
Paul Klahre
WOSM Youth Representative

Scouts, you can take action for peace now.

Here are 3 ways you can contribute:

  1. Sign the petition
  2. Share the petition with your friends and promote your call for peace using #YouthWantPeace #EndWarSaveLifes
  3. Take on the Dialogue for Peace or Interreligious Dialogue challenge

***

WOSM is an active member of the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security and has committed fully to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda during the 41st World Scout Conference. “The promotion of local, national and international peace, understanding and cooperation” as well as “the participation in the development of society with recognition and respect for the dignity of humanity” are enshrined in WOSM’s Constitution [Art. II.1].