ical role of youth in mitigating humanitarian crises, 
such as COVID–19. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
Government should, consistent with the priorities of 
USAID’s 2022 Youth In Development Policy— 
(1) apply Do No Harm principles, while recog-
nizing that engaging young people as partners in 
peacebuilding and humanitarian activities is critical 
in fragile environments; 
(2) promote the meaningful and inclusive en-
gagement of youth in peacebuilding and conflict pre-
vention, management, and resolution, as well as 
post-conflict relief and recovery efforts and proc-
esses, reinforced through diplomatic efforts and pro-
grams; 
(3) provide assistance to and build the capacity 
of youth-led organizations dedicated to advancing 
peace and review administrative and bureaucratic 
impediments to achieving this aim; 
(4) build on new learning and existing United 
States Government strategies addressing youth, 
peace, and security, including the Women, Peace 
and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–68) and 
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the Action Plan developed pursuant to section 8, to 
ensure that— 
(A) there is meaningful, inclusive and equi-
table participation of diverse youth in decision 
making at all levels; 
(B) such decision making is designed and 
assessed in consultation with youth representing 
diverse identities and situations, including 
youth from marginalized and underrepresented 
groups, including young women and girls, 
LGBTQI+ youth, indigenous youth, and youth 
with disabilities; 
(C) ensure that the voices, experiences, 
and perspectives of local youth are heard and 
valued, and create accessible platforms for dia-
logue and participatory processes that allow 
them to contribute to decision making, peace 
negotiations, and policy development at the 
local and municipal levels; and 
(D) recognize that youth, including young 
women and girls, are not a homogenous group 
and have diverse experiences and perspectives, 
and ensure inclusivity by engaging and incor-
porating the perspectives of marginalized and 
underrepresented 
youth, 
girls, 
and 
young 
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women, including those from minority commu-
nities, indigenous backgrounds, and rural areas; 
(5) integrate youth outreach and engagement 
into relevant conflict-resolution, leadership, democ-
racy, and governance programs supported by the 
United States Government; and 
(6) include policies that are specific to boys and 
girls at various ages and programming in the design, 
implementation, and evaluation of relevant United 
States foreign assistance programs. 
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It shall be the policy of the United States to promote 
the inclusive and meaningful participation of youth in 
peacebuilding and conflict prevention, management, and 
resolution, and post-conflict relief and recovery efforts, re-
inforced through diplomatic efforts and assistance pro-
grams that— 
(1) elevate and incorporate the perspectives and 
interests of affected youth into conflict-prevention, 
violence-reduction, and post-conflict peacebuilding 
activities and strategies; 
(2) increase meaningful and inclusive youth en-
gagement in program planning and policy develop-
ment related to conflict prevention and violence re-
duction, democracy and governance, and security 
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sector initiatives funded by the United States Gov-
ernment; 
(3) promote the safety, security, and dignity of 
youth in crisis, conflict, and other fragile environ-
ments; 
(4) provide technical and financial support to 
diverse youth-led groups, initiatives, and innovations 
working on issues of peace and security; 
(5) support greater access of youth-led and 
youth-serving organizations who are traditionally 
less represented in peacebuilding and conflict pre-
vention programming to United States foreign as-
sistance aid distribution mechanisms and services; 
(6) advance civic education in formal and non- 
formal settings, increase youth civic and political 
participation and representation, and bolster collec-
tive action and leadership that improve democracy, 
peace, and security outcomes; 
(7) encourage partner governments to adopt 
plans to increase meaningful and inclusive youth en-
gagement in peace and security processes and deci-
sion-making institutions; 
(8) recognize the unique context underrep-
resented and marginalized youth, including girls and 
young women, experience in conflict and violence 
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settings by adjusting programs and policies that per-
tain to the achievement of the strategy and policy 
goals of this Act— 
(A) to protect youth population that are 
especially vulnerable, including girls and young 
women, and to ensure their online and offline 
safety, security, and dignity; 
(B) to support their equal access to aid 
and development assistance; 
(C) to prioritize programs to improve out-
comes in inclusion, equality, and empowerment; 
and 
(D) to recognize the critical roles and 
agency of young people in peacebuilding, recov-
ery, and development and prioritize the inclu-
sion of underrepresented and marginalized 
youth in these processes and efforts; 
(9) recognize the unique challenges facing youth 
affected by conflict and violence in the areas of— 
(A) trauma, psychosocial, and mental 
health issues; 
(B) stigma and other challenges with com-
munity reintegration after conflict or gang asso-
ciation, such as access to education, training, 
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