In June 2025, Accept International issued a policy paper on the rights and empowerment of Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG) through Civil 7 (an international network composed of civil society organizations from G7 and G20 member countries, an official engagement group of the G7).

This policy paper summarizes the results of our efforts since February 2025 as a member of C7’s Working Group on Humanitarian Action and Peace, working in collaboration with civil society organizations around the world to advocate the need for international norms regarding YANSAG.

In particular, at the C7 meeting held in Ottawa, Canada, in April 2025, we highlighted our organization’s track record in supporting YANSAG in conflict affected regions to disengage from armed groups and providing rehabilitation and social reintegration support. We also shared their unique potential as agents of peace and engaged with many stakeholders on advancing their rights and empowerment.

Consequently, our organization’s proposal was agreed upon by the Working Group on Humanitarian Action and Peace, becoming the only independent policy paper submitted by civil society to the G7 governments for the resolution of conflicts around the world.

This proposal conveys the need to create mechanisms that contribute to peacebuilding by utilizing the potential of young people involved with armed groups, their unique backgrounds as former conflict actors, and their ideas for peace, without leaving them behind. This is also a major step towards shedding a light on the most overlooked group of young people in the context of peacebuilding and the international community.

We will continue to engage with the international community and take further steps towards establishing international norms that ensure the rights and empowerment of young people who have been left behind.

▼Click here for the policy paper.