THE Youth Peace Forum, themed “Promoting Youth Participation in Peace and Nation-Building” took place at the Myanmar International Convention Centre I (MICC I) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Speaking at the event, State Security and Peace Commission Member, National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee Chairman and Union Minister Lt-Gen Yar Pyae stated that the youths attending the Youth Peace Forum 2026 have now been able to integrate peace with their real lives, responsibilities, and aspirations for the future. He added that the forum’s theme is “Promoting Youth Participation in Peace and Nation-Building”, and the young people, as future leaders, need to understand and accept fundamental values of peace, including respect for each individual’s language and culture, prioritizing truth and reconciliation without hate speech, and maintaining a mindset that views diversity as a source of national strength. As economic development and technology are the foundation of peace, the urban youths and young technologists need to discuss how to promote entrepreneurship, digital economies, AI-based services, and other economic and technological platforms, and how to collectively seek solutions. Creating good economic opportunities for all young people is the best way to build peace.
He continued that creating a favourable economic environment, which is an essential need for every citizen for peace, will create high-quality human resources. Social media can be a platform for spreading hate speech, but it can also serve as a space for building unity, reconciliation, and mutual understanding. Regarding the forum’s expectations, the Youth Peace Declaration to be produced from this forum would become a practical guide incorporating the real needs, goals, and commitments of young people. It will serve not only as a network for understanding but as a linkage for active cooperation. He then urged participants to carry the outcomes of the Peace Forum back to their respective regions so that they may spread among youth and government, and between the government and the public.
National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee Secretary then Lt-Gen Min Naing briefed on the intention of holding the Youth Peace Forum 2026 and systematic preparations to be the national level and a fair platform for all participation. He also stated that the forum brings together young people from diverse ethnicities, regions, cultures, and social backgrounds to share their views, highlight the importance of youth participation and actions in peace and community stability, create opportunities for young people, and gather youth recommendations for drafting a long-term, sustainable peace and national unity and social development roadmap, and to identify the practical roles of youth in the post-election period.
On the first day of the forum, under the theme of passing on the legacy of peace to youth and promoting a peaceful society, peace-related presentations and surveys will be conducted with at least 22 young participants from various regions.
On the second day, 10 experienced representatives, including scholars, skilled youth professionals, young experts, and ministry officials, will discuss designated topics, while 320 youth representatives will be divided into four groups for in-depth discussions. It will also include flash competitions and an awards ceremony.
On the third day, which is the most important part of the forum, activities will include forming and linking youth networks, presenting and discussing network-based plans and proposals, expert feedback on discussions, and evaluation and awards for proposals. The recommendations and outcomes will be systematically compiled to enable the drafting of a youth policy paper for building the future of Myanmar, based on the Peace and Future Youth Declaration and the Youth Peace Forum.
Afterwards, participants in peace processes engaged in the discussion under different topics, and the youth representatives discussed reducing and halting armed conflicts and conducted flash surveys to gather youth opinions on peace-related issues.
The forum will continue on 14 January.
MNA/KTZH
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