July 21, 2025 —We are delighted to announce that GTY has developed a comprehensive and practical empowerment program aimed at enabling Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG)* to acquire the skills necessary to become Agents of Peace. GTY and Accept International have created a nearly 200-page textbook titled “Book for Unique Agents of Peace: A Practical Framework to Support and Amplify the Power of Hidden Youth” for YANSAG in complex environments, such as prisons, rehabilitation centers, detention centers, and other marginalized communities, along with a detailed instruction guidebook to implement the program effectively.
This program is based on testimonies gathered from interviews with 450 individuals who were previously involved in armed conflicts across 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East. It also incorporates the extensive experience and insights that Accept International has accumulated from the frontline efforts, as well as discussions with academic institutions, local NGOs, and experts in a wide range of fields related to the curriculum content. By drawing on these diverse perspectives, the program addresses the unique challenges and needs that YANSAG face in becoming Agents of Peace within their communities and society.
This program plays a critical role in filling a significant gap, as despite the existence of many peacebuilding and youth empowerment initiatives globally, very few focus on overlooked youth, specifically YANSAG. The initiative aims to equip YANSAG with the necessary skills tailored to their specific needs, enabling them to leverage those insights to promote peace in a way only they can, while focusing on the experiences and lessons they learned under armed conflicts. It provides a practical framework to empower YANSAG, encourage their ideas, and support their actions toward peace.
Moving forward, we plan to implement this program using the textbook in various conflict-affected contexts worldwide. Through these efforts, GTY will continue not only its advocacy work toward establishing international norms but also its practical initiatives to unlock the potential of YANSAG as unique Agents of Peace.
*Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups: The term “YANSAG” is defined as “any person aged between 18-35 years, though not strictly limited to this age range, who is or who has been recruited or used by a NSAG (Non-State Armed Group) in any capacity.” The status includes various forms of YANSAG, such as defectors, prisoners, detainees, returnees, and ex-combatants.
