Justice Call, in collaboration with Harvard Law School’s Dispute Systems Design Clinic and The MENA Coalition on YPS, proudly announces the release of a two-part research series exploring the role of youth in peace negotiations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The researchers aim to address longstanding gaps in understanding youth engagement in peacebuilding, both at the grassroots and state levels.
Part I: Youth Inclusion in Track 3 Negotiations
Mapping Grassroots Peace Processes Led by Civil Society and Youth
The first report examines the often-overlooked role of youth in Track 3 (local-level) peace negotiations in conflict-affected countries, including Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, and Tunisia. Despite the critical insights that local peacebuilding efforts offer, they remain under-researched and under-supported by international actors and donors.
The report, developed by a student team from Harvard Law and The Fletcher School, under faculty supervision, draws on stakeholder interviews, case studies, and field research. It highlights how youth and civil society actors are not only participating in but often leading local peace efforts. The findings are grouped into three thematic clusters: occurrence, challenges, and opportunities, and offer practical recommendations to empower youth-led peacebuilding at the grassroots level.
Part II: Youth Inclusion in Track 1 Negotiations
Linking Local Peacebuilding to State-Level Negotiations
Building on the findings of the first report, the second installment investigates youth engagement in Track 1 (state-level) peace negotiations—spaces typically reserved for armed and political elites. Conducted in Spring 2025 by a team from the Harvard Law School Dispute Systems Design Clinic, the report explores how lessons learned from grassroots (Track 3) efforts can inform more inclusive and effective state-level (Track 1) processes.
This report outlines key barriers to youth engagement, institutional resistance, and systemic challenges, while offering forward-looking recommendations for Track 1 actors, youth organizations, and international supporters. It presents an integrative approach, emphasizing that connecting local and national peace processes is essential for building sustainable peace in the region.
Why This Matters:
In a region where over 60% of the population is under the age of 30, youth are not just the future of peace—they are the present. These reports challenge the current status quo of exclusion and make the case for integrating youth meaningfully across all levels of negotiation and peacebuilding.
To read the full reports, please visit:
First Report: Examining Youth Inclusion in Track 3 Negotiations
Second Report: Examining Youth Inclusion in Track 1 Peace Negotiations
