Young leaders from across the world gathered in Beijing on Saturday, July 29, 2025, for the World Youth Peace Conference, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. The event culminated in the launch of the World Youth Peace Initiative, a historic declaration issued by youth representatives from every continent, urging the world to recommit to peace, unity and sustainable development.

Representing Africa’s voice on the global stage, Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, Secretary-General of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), joined four other youth delegates in unveiling the declaration. Speaking on behalf of African youth, he reiterated the urgency of global solidarity and inclusive multilateralism, stressing that young people must stand together to shape a more peaceful and just future. “Young people of all nations should draw wisdom from history and take concrete actions to defend peace, oppose all forms of war and violence, and reject unilateralism, hegemonism, and protectionism,” he said.

The declaration itself is a rallying call for young people everywhere to rise above division and embrace unity as the only path toward a brighter future. It reminds the world that peace cannot be taken for granted and warns that humanity once again faces a choice between cooperation and confrontation. “Eighty years ago, our predecessors illuminated darkness with unity. Eighty years later, it is up to us, the youth, to define the future through action,” the statement declares, underscoring the responsibility of the younger generation to defend justice, safeguard the international order and deepen friendship among peoples.

For Africa, the message carries particular weight. With the youngest population in the world, the continent’s contribution to building a peaceful, just and inclusive global order is indispensable. Mr. Kodjie insisted that youth must be placed at the heart of peacebuilding efforts, noting that only through unity can humanity overcome the pressing challenges of conflict, inequality and climate change. “Only by treasuring peace and upholding unity can humanity embrace a brighter future,” he affirmed.

As the world reflects on eight decades since the defeat of fascism and the founding of the United Nations, the voices of youth in Beijing offered a powerful reminder that the struggle for peace remains unfinished. The World Youth Peace Initiative now stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action, urging young people everywhere to reject violence, champion solidarity and work hand in hand for the shared future of humankind.