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On July 9, 2025, at the 11th Substantive Session of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on the security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs), Lydia Peevey delivered a statement on behalf of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its youth initiative, Reverse The Trend.
Lydia, a Singapore Permanent Resident and youth peace advocate, emphasized the vital role of youth and civil society in cybersecurity governance. She welcomed the OEWG’s recognition of this role but stressed that Member States must go further: youth must be treated not just as trainees, but as co-creators of policy.
“Our generation will live with the consequences of today’s decisions,” she said. “Youth engagement brings firsthand understanding of how technologies are used, abused, and experienced. We are digital natives—implementers, experts, and educators.”
Lydia called for practical steps to embed youth in the future permanent mechanism, including inclusive capacity building, regular consultations, and clear pathways for stakeholder input. “The future of ICTs depends on us,” she concluded. “Let’s build that future together.”
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Intervention at the 11th Substantive Session of the Opened-Ended Working Group on Security
Of and In the Use of Information and Communications Technologies
Delivered by
Lydia Peevy, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and Reverse The Trend
09 July 2025
Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
My name is Lydia Peevey, and I am an activist with the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and Reverse The Trend, NAPF’s youth initiative. I grew up in Singapore and I am proud to be a Singapore Permanent Resident. I appreciate Singapore’s efforts in guiding the OEWG’s process to ensure that it has strengthened global norms and opened space for more inclusive dialogue.
Chair,
I will focus my remarks on the importance of civil society and youth engagement in the OEWG’s process, and particularly on the critical role that youth can and must play as we transition to a future permanent mechanism.
The draft final report acknowledges that engagement with civil society, NGOs, academia, and youth has strengthened legitimacy, transparency, and effectiveness in the OEWG’s work. But we must go further.
In paragraph 52(m), the report encourages States to engage other interested parties, stakeholders, and youth in capacity building and training. This is critical to the integrity of the process. We further urge Member States to treat youth not just as recipients of training, but as co-creators of policy. Youth engagement brings community insight and an understanding of how technologies are used, abused, and experienced firsthand.
Civil society is not just a supporting actor in global cybersecurity governance, but comprises implementers, technical experts, educators, and, especially in the case of youth, digital natives who understand how these technologies function and how they affect our societies. The report’s recognition of the need for diverse and sustained engagement must be backed by practical steps, including regular consultations, technical cooperation, inclusive cyber-capacity building, and clear pathways for stakeholder input in norm development.
We are highly concerned about attempts to backtrack and limit the role of stakeholders.
Chair,
Our generation will live with the consequences of today’s decisions on digital security and governance, whether it’s AI-enabled conflict, the misuse of cyber tools against civilians or governmental actors, or attacks on critical infrastructure. The risks are real, and youth engagement is crucial in shaping responses.
The OEWG has laid a strong foundation, but the future permanent mechanism must go further in embedding civil society, especially youth, as partners in this space.
Finally, as someone who grew up in Singapore and now works with young peacebuilders from around the world, I’ve seen what happens when youth are given the tools and the trust to lead. The future of ICTs depends on us.
Let’s build that future together.
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