; (C) effectively encouraging defection from armed groups; (D) improving the effectiveness and sustainability of peace agreements; (E) improving social cohesion and resilience to violence and recruitment; and (F) strengthening a culture of peace and security. (6) Youth are critical actors in grassroots community development, despite operational risks and limited technical and financial support for their work. (7) Preventive and resilience-based approaches to youth are more effective at reducing violence than hard security responses and at-risk and remedial approaches, which are often counterproductive. (8) Youth who have participated in United States-supported civic engagement and development programs were less likely to participate in or support political violence. (9) Youth participation in the design and implementation of community development strategies is critical for effectively reducing violence and extremism, and increasing peace. (10) United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, which was adopted on December 9, 2015, formalized an international framework to address the role of youth in building and sustaining peace and preventing conflict. 3. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government should— (1) promote the meaningful participation of youth in peace building and conflict prevention, management, and resolution, as well as post-conflict relief and recovery efforts, reinforced through diplomatic efforts and programs; (2) provide assistance to and build the capacity of youth-led organizations dedicated to advancing peace and review administrative and bureaucratic impediments to achieving this aim; (3) build on existing United States Government strategies addressing youth to ensure the meaningful and inclusive participation of youth in decision making at all levels and, at a minimum, such decision making should be designed and assessed in consultation with diverse, representative youth