Progress has been made in many parts of the world, including in the United States, to improve safety for, and to reduce violence against and by, adolescents and young adults. Nevertheless, the interlinked challenges of post-pandemic mental health difficulties, education and social development losses, racial and ethnic injustice, climate change, migration, the rise of autocratic governance, rapidly-advancing technologies, and the potential for greater levels of un- or under-employment are having profound effects on the outlook for youth populations. Taking into account the best available research, innovations, and case studies that highlight global best practices, might youth safety and justice systems need to be rethought and reconceived?
Since January 2020, this initiative has established a strong foundation for sustained cross-national collaboration that can have a direct impact on youth justice and safety systems. In the lead-up to and at this session, existing working groups will continue their engagement through identifying gaps not yet addressed – and strategies to fill them; plan for dissemination of findings to ensure insights reach key decision-makers, policy influencers, practitioners, and researchers; and systematize the innovations, strategies, policy recommendations, and emerging insights to ensure documentation for effective future research and implementation.