How many of us remember the decade-long conflict in Nepal and the complex peacebuilding process that followed? For over ten years, the country was engulfed in a brutal civil war that claimed more than 13,000 lives, displaced thousands, and tore communities apart. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2006 brought an end to the violence, but it also ushered in a new challenge: building a democratic and inclusive society from the ashes of conflict. At the heart of this process there were as well Nepal’s marginalised women and youth—particularly those from poor, vulnerable, and socially excluded groups—who had suffered the most yet remained excluded from key decision-making processes.

When I contributed to the "Women and Youth as Pillars of Sustainable Peace" initiative in Nepal, the mission was to empower these often-overlooked groups to take an active role in shaping the nation’s future. The program emerged as a response to the structural inequalities and systemic exclusion that had fueled the conflict in the first place. Women and youth from communities such as Dalits, Madhesis, ex-bonded laborers, religious minorities, and survivors of sexual and political violence faced persistent barriers to participation in political and social processes. Their involvement was not just a matter of fairness—it was essential for building a sustainable and just peace.
The program’s vision was both ambitious and transformative:
At the community level, we sought to build the capacity of the most vulnerable women and youth to engage in peacebuilding and political processes.
At the institutional level, we aimed to strengthen local civil society networks to advocate for the rights of marginalised groups.
At the policy level, we worked to influence decision-makers to integrate these voices into Nepal’s new constitution and broader political frameworks.
This three-tiered approach bridged the gap between grassroots realities and national policymaking, ensuring that those most affected by the conflict could help shape the solutions.
To achieve these objectives, the program employed a range of innovative activities that remain deeply relevant today:
Establishing Peace Centers in conflict-affected districts, which served as hubs for advocacy, dialogue, and healing.
Training Peace Ambassadors and Forming Peace Groups reaching out to 100 Peace Ambassadors—young leaders who mobilised hundreds of local peace groups: platforms for women and youth to learn about their rights, engage in advocacy, and address issues like caste discrimination and gender-based violence.
Providing Psychosocial Support and Mediation recognising the trauma faced by conflict survivors, with the dual approach of healing and conflict resolution to strengthened community cohesion.
Advocacy connecting grassroots voices to national policymakers including radio programs and storytelling, amplified the perspectives of vulnerable groups, shifting narratives and pressuring policymakers to act.

Reflecting on this program today, I see common ground to the principles outlined in the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Strategy for 2024-2026. despite the many years passed. While the YPS agenda has advanced the recognition of youth as essential peacebuilders, many of the barriers that were identified and addressed in Nepal , still remain widespread in so many contexts around the globe:
Youth Representation: Globally, youth are still underrepresented in formal peace processes.
Protection and Healing: The trauma of conflict continues to affect millions of young people undermining social cohesion.
Sustainability and Investment: Youth-led initiatives often face chronic underfunding with no linkages between grassroots efforts with national networks and international fora.
How many times must we relearn the same lessons before we truly change the way we approach peacebuilding? Despite the evolving nature of conflict—whether through political instability, climate-induced displacement, or emerging security threats—there remain fundamental pillars of sustainable peace that we continue to overlook or forget. The importance of local leadership, the need for youth and women to have a seat at the table, the critical role of psychosocial support and mediation—these are not new discoveries. They were central to our work back then, and they are still today.
Yet, we find ourselves caught in the same gaps: youth , adolescents, children and women are still marginalised from decision-making, protection mechanisms remain underfunded, and peacebuilding efforts often fail to meaningfully integrate those most affected by conflict. Are we truly moving forward, or are we simply rebranding old exclusionary practices with new terminology?

The YPS Strategy for 2024-2026 presents an opportunity to apply these lessons at a global scale, but only if we stop treating youth and marginalised groups as an afterthought. We must invest in long-term, locally driven solutions that bridge grassroots efforts with national policies.
We must ensure that peacebuilding is not just about formal agreements but about real, inclusive participation that transforms societies from within.
So, the real question is: Will we take these lessons forward and finally break the cycle, or will we continue to reinvent the wheel while leaving the most affected communities behind?Â
The choice is ours.
Z.Liew
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