Current Programs 

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The Young Leaders International Peace Council (YLIPC) was initially conceived at the Second Pan-African Youth Leadership Summit in Ifrane, Morocco August 18-24, 2005. The Summit was organized by the United Nations with the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW). At the meeting there was a special panel on the role of youth in peacebuilding and the formation of a youth council was proposed in response to a call for help by the delegation from Sudan in the organization of a youth dialogue.

The Peace Council was officially launched at the Young Leaders Peacebuilding Retreat, which was held from October 25-28, 2006, as a pre-summit meeting for the UN Global Youth Leadership Summit in New York. The Retreat was hosted by the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association and was organized by the Global Peace Initiative of Women.  Approximately 75 young people between the ages of 20 and 35 from around the world engaged in dialogue with each other and respected elders from various cultures to explore the most effective ways to reduce conflict and resolve differences nonviolently. At the end of the retreat, the Council agreed its first mission would be to lead an international delegation of young people to join in solidarity with the youth of Sudan to address the conflict in Darfur and development challenges in the country.

The Young Leaders International Peace Council (YLIPC) was created by the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW), with support from the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association (DDM), to help develop peacebuilding skills among young leaders. GPIW continues as the parent organization of the YLIPC with ongoing support and guidance from DDM.

Photos (left to right): Japan and Zambia joint activity - Established by members of the YLIPC; YLIPC Member runs Women's Farming & Economic Cooperative, Zambia; YLIPC Members - Youth Delegation to the World Bank World Ethics Forum in Oxford.