A/HRC/34/46 52. Participants highlighted the potential of the Sustainable Development Goals to provide young people with concrete means to improve their lives, which in turn could contribute to countering the appeal of violent extremist groups. Factors that pushed young people to join extremist movements were discussed, including the assumption that socioeconomic marginalization was the exclusive driver for radicalization, disregarding the importance of the aspiration to feel empowered and part of a community that some youth sought by joining extremist groups. 53. Participants identified some of the major challenges that hampered youth participation in peacebuilding and peace negotiation processes, including the lack of recognition of the positive role youth could play in implementing the peace and security agenda. Such an approach was often based on narratives that described youth either as the people most likely to be violent and receptive to appeals to take up arms and violent extremism, or as mere victims of conflicts. Consequently, youth were consulted only sporadically, most often through ad hoc meetings. Participants also recognized the difficulties that youth, particularly marginalized youth, faced in securing funds to cover their participation in multi-stakeholder conferences and forums where peace and security issues were discussed and important decisions made. 54. Participants also discussed possible synergies between Security Council resolutions 2250 (2015) and 1325 (2000) and the lessons learned from the latter, particularly with regard to effective initiatives to translate abstract concepts such as peace and security into local reality. B. Recommendations 55. States should ensure that young people are encouraged to develop a sense of opportunity and ownership in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals and are engaged in their implementation. This can be achieved, for example, by raising awareness about the 17 Goals and their relevance to local needs through campaigns and other creative approaches, particularly in remote areas and among marginalized young people. In this context, States should provide safe spaces for youth to express their concerns, needs and priorities in relation to the implementation of the Goals. They should also work with youth to ensure that implementation plans take local needs into account. 56. Traditional media should disseminate information to help youth, particularly youth with no access to the Internet, understand the Sustainable Development Goals and their potentially transformative impact at the local level. The media should support accountability initiatives and mechanisms, including by disseminating information on actions undertaken by the authorities, their shortcomings and achievements in the implementation of the Goals. Moreover, the media should contribute to fostering a dialogue between Governments and young people, including by providing youth with the opportunity to express their views and to influence decision makers. 57. States should allocate adequate political, technical and financial support to ensure that Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) is relevant to local communities, that the resolution is implemented and that it gives rise to concrete peace and security programmes and policies. Such programmes and policies should be designed, implemented and monitored with the full, effective and meaningful participation of youth organizations and youth from local communities. States should commit to provide adequate financial support to such organizations and work with them to ensure their participation in efforts towards the implementation of the peace and 14