AMID tensions and conflict happening in many parts of the world, young Filipina peace advocate Arizza Nocum delivered a forceful message questioning world leaders' support for escalating violence during the highly-anticipated Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address at the Geneva Peace Week in Switzerland on Oct. 13 to 16, 2024.

"Leaders, ask yourselves why you allow conflict, why do you wage war? Is it [because of] ego, power, money, faith, immortality? I hope you understand that while you achieve this, whatever it is, while you win, the rest of the world is losing," shared Nocum, who is the co-founder and president of the Kristiyano Islam Peace Library (KRIS), a nonprofit organization working to promote peace and development through education and youth leadership.

The peace advocate also lamented the lack of youth involvement in policy- and decision-making around peacebuilding and development and called for increased support — particularly in funding — for youth-led programs worldwide.

According to her, young people must be actively engaged in peacebuilding since it is their "very future at stake" in light of recent escalations of conflict in Europe and the Middle East.

Nocum, who has worked in educating and empowering youth toward peace for over 15 years in the Philippines, clarified that young people must not just be token participants in actions and events around peace but must have the opportunity to co-create and co-design initiatives, especially when it affects them directly.

Still addressing world leaders, she said, "You have your bullets, you have your bombs, but for now and for many young people, I think it sometimes feels that our only weapon is hope, but sometimes that's enough."

Nocum was joined onstage by human rights luminaries such as Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland and chairman of The Elders, and Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, former United Nations high commissioner for human rights and president of the International Peace Institute. The session was moderated by Ahmad Fawzi, one of Kofi Annan's former spokesmen and communication advisor.