The Technical Committee on Youth (TCY) is the thirteenth committee established under the framework of the peace process, aimed at fostering cooperation between Greek Cypriots (GC) and Turkish Cypriots (TC) through tangible and collaborative initiatives. The decision by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to create the first new committee in over a decade was made during the informal broader meeting held in Geneva in March 2025, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. 

Notably, the TCY was established as the United Nations is marking the 10th anniversary of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, highlighting a growing recognition of the importance of integrating, amplifying, and empowering youth voices in all spheres of life—including peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding, and reconciliation. 

The decision to appoint more young men and women across all Technical Committees—and to create a dedicated committee focused on youth issues—followed sustained advocacy by senior UN officials. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo championed the idea during her visit to the island in March 2023, where it was presented to the two leaders. The initiative was further supported by Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar in February 2024. 

On 5 May 2025, the inaugural meeting of the TCY took place at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the Buffer Zone. The 32 Committee members—achieving full gender parity and representing a wide range of backgrounds including entrepreneurs, lawyers, artists, researchers, athletes, influencers, and doctors—came together and were welcomed by the two leaders, who made a brief appearance to express their encouragement. 

Since then, six additional meetings have been held, facilitated by the UN Good Offices Mission in cooperation with UNFICYP. These meetings focused on: 

• Getting to know one another, 

• Understanding the three-tier structure of the peace process (Technical Committees, weekly GC-TC coordinator meetings, and regular trilateral meetings between the GC negotiator, TC special representative, and SRSG/DSASG Colin Stewart), 

• Establishing working modalities and internal procedures, 

• Identifying thematic priorities, and 

• Beginning discussions on the Committee’s mandate. 

On 11 July, the Committee hosted its first public event—a networking gathering designed to introduce the TCY to the broader youth community across the island and to gather their views on the most pressing challenges and opportunities they face. The event brought together over 120 participants, many of whom were engaging with members of the other community for the first time. 

The networking was structured around five thematic tables, reflecting the Committee’s identified priorities: 

• Environment and Sustainability 

• Entrepreneurship 

• Health, Wellbeing, and Sport 

• Art, Music, and Culture 

• Technology and Social Media 

Looking ahead, the Committee is expected to begin developing targeted activities and projects in the coming months. These initiatives aim to foster inclusive dialogue, youth participation, and collaborative efforts that reflect the diverse perspectives and shared aspirations of young people across the island. Collaboration with other Technical Committees may also be explored as part of this process.