EarthAction

Invitation to online Common Security Conference 10-11 April 2025

 

I am contacting you today to personally invite you to an online conference on 10-11 April, organized by the International Peace Bureau, International Trade Union Confederation, and the Olof Palme International Center. 

 

The event, entitled “Common Security Conference 2025: Redefining Security for the 21st Century” seeks to expand upon the work that we began in 2022 with the publication of the report Common Security 2022: For Our Shared Future and continued with last years’ Common Security in the Indo-Pacific report.

 

The upcoming conference is also a recognition that we are not the only organizations fighting to redefine ‘security’ away from strictly militarized definitions to more inclusive and peace-based ones. We therefore believe that it is vital that we come together for key discussions on our efforts to redefine security and to coordinate efforts to produce greater results for our shared goal.

 

Our collective knowledge and experience is needed to fight for a better, less militaristic and more just conception of security. We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us on 10-11 April. Importantly, the conference will include regional discussions and an open discussion forum – for the full program schedule you can visit this page.

 

Registration is available here.

 

Please note that this conference is envisioned as the start of a bigger process of coalition-building around redefining security. We will take extensive notes of the discussions with the aim of building the next steps collaboratively with all of you. 

 

Please feel free to share the invitation with those in your network that may be interested to attend/contribute to the discussion. We are also accepting ‘endorsing organizations’ for the events, should you be interested.

 

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you and we hope to see you there!

 

Read more about the International Peace Bureau here

Applications now open for Younger Leaders for SDGs!

We are pleased to share that the UN Youth Office has officially launched the search for the next cohort of 17 Young Leaders for the SDGs!

On a biennial basis, the Youth office is proud to recognize outstanding young leaders between 15 and 35 years old for their agency, courage and ingenuity in finding lasting solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Becoming a Young Leader is a title of recognition from the United Nations for young people who are excelling in their contributions to helping deliver on the SDGs in their communities.

Throughout the two-year term, these 17 Young Leaders will engage young people for the 2030 Agenda, not only through their existing initiatives, platforms and networks but through advocacy opportunities with the United Nations and our partners. For inspiration, you can check out the profiles of previous Young Leaders from the 2022 cohort, 2020 cohort, 2018 cohort and 2016 cohort.

How can you engage and support the call for applications?

• Spread the word on social media. A dedicated social media toolkit is available on Trello, including assets and copy translated into Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Please feel free to amplify and circulate widely to your networks (especially via country-level colleagues working closely with young people on the ground).
• Make sure to use #YouthLead and tag @UNYouthAffairs in your posts.
• The easiest way to support is by sharing our launch posts on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads or by using this click-to-tweet.
• Encourage young people across your networks to apply. We are looking for diverse young people from all over the world between the ages of 15 and 35 who are driving change globally and/or in their communities. Applications are now open here and will close on Friday, 18 April 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.

Many thanks in advance for your support in helping to identify and recognize the next set of inspirational Young Leaders who are leading us towards the world we all want.

Read more about UNEP here