There is increasing recognition of the role that sport plays in bringing young people together and in promoting peace, civic engagement and youth development. Beyond the fact that sport participation contributes positively to personal development and to the full realization of youth potential, the UN recognizes the practice of sport as an instrument for preventing conflict and promoting long lasting peace and development objectives. Sport can build bridges between communities, regardless of their cultural differences or political divisions, as it disregards geographical borders, ethnic differences and social classes. It also plays a significant role as a promoter of social integration and economic empowerment.
The thematic paper ''The contribution of sport to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda'' was developed on the initiative of the UN Inter-Agency Group on Sport for Development and Peace (IAGSDP) as a contribution to the development of the second Secretary General’s report on Youth, Peace and Security, published on 16 March 2022 (S/2022/220). The paper was collaboratively drafted by youth and sport's resource persons in the following UN entities: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).
It showcases examples of specific projects, activities and other sport-based initiatives which were implemented within the reporting period (2020-2021) and contribute to Youth, Peace and Security agenda.