ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 19, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA
What: Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the African Youth Charter
Theme: “10 Years Implementation of the African Youth Charter: Accelerating Youth Development in Africa”
When: 21-25 May 2016
21-22 May: BANJUL+10 side events
23 May: Presentation of the 3-year Strategy and Work Plan towards the end of the Youth Decade Plan of Action
24 May: Official opening ceremony and Ministerial Session
25 May: High Level Roundtable and Intergenerational Dialogue
Who: The African Union Commission in collaboration with the Islamic Republic of The Gambia, and with the support of UNFPA, UNESCO, UNAIDS, IPPF, GESCI, Commonwealth
Where: Banjul, The Gambia
Objectives: The main objective of the Banjul+10 AYC commemoration is to provide a common platform for Member States to conduct a peer review of their investments to “prepare the future” for Africa’s youth;
The specific objectives of the celebration include:
To provide a high-level political forum for intergenerational discourse and advocacy, stakeholders’ interaction, agenda setting and celebration of African youth Initiatives.
To showcase the progress Africa youth are making across all fields of human endeavour surviving against all odds, leading innovation, creativity and public service.
To ensure and facilitate broad based and inclusive consultations that will set the
baseline for assessing progress in the youth development targets of Africa’s growth and development paradigm beyond 2015.
To provide an avenue for discussion on the proposed Africa’s demographic framework that will guide the application of a youth lens at all levels and in the rollout of the AU 2063 Agenda.
Commemoration of the African Liberation Day in Banjul, The Gambia May 2016
Participants:
The Commemoration will be attended by Member States, the African Union Commission, the Pan African Youth Union, Regional Youth Organizations, National Youth Councils, Civil society, Diaspora Youth; Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Partners in Youth Development, Youth Champions and Invited Guests, Media.
Expected outcomes:
Renewed impetus for the implementation of the African Youth Charter, towards Youth Development and Empowerment in Africa.
Banjul+10 declaration and two years action towards accelerated
implementation of the African Youth Decade Plan of Action.
Draft of roadmap of activities for the commemoration of AU 2017 theme on “Harnessing Demographic Dividend through investments in youth”.
Raised awareness for promoting youth employability, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Propose mechanisms for the establishment of the African Union Chairperson’s Envoy on Youth discussed.
Background:
During the Seventh Ordinary Session of the AU Summit in Banjul Gambia, July 2006, African Union Heads of State and Government adopted the African Youth Charter (AYC) – a political and legal document which serves as a strategic framework that gives direction for youth empowerment and development at continental, regional and national levels. The AYC aims to strengthen, reinforce and consolidate efforts to empower young people through meaningful youth participation and equal partnership in driving Africa’s development agenda.
So far, 42 countries have signed the charter, and 38 have ratified it. It was indeed one of the fastest ratified legal instruments of the African Union, for which reason, African countries can congratulate themselves for recognizing and honouring the place of youth. Also, it is important to note that beyond Africa the African Youth Charter is well known and has inspired international youth Forums, organizations, and policies in Europe, South America, UN agencies amongst others.
Ten years later, Africa is taking stock of the progress made as well as the challenges faced, in order to collectively re-strategize and strengthen the momentum towards the implementation of the African Youth Charter and by implication achieving the vision set out in Africa’s Agenda 2063. The commemoration of the tenth year anniversary of the Youth Charter will be under the theme “10 Years Implementation of the African Youth Charter: Accelerating Youth Development in Africa”. As a “rights based” policy framework, it is critical to foreground youth rights in all its facets and as a guideline towards the achievement of the desired developmental outcomes for young people in Africa.
Banjul+10 is an opportunity to advance the agenda of youth empowerment and development in all member states by ensuring, as a mechanism, mutual accountability to the obligations of African Youth Charter and re-affirming commitments in the Decade of Youth 2009 – 2018 and its Plan of Action. The Outcomes of the Banjul+10 will feed into the second AU Specialized Technical Committee (STC) meeting of AU Ministers in Charge of Youth, Culture and Sports, and also serve as roadmap for the 2017 ‘African Year for Harnessing Demographic Dividends for accelerated Youth Empowerment’
Media representatives based in Gambia and the sub-region are invited to cover the event.
Join the Twitter conversations on the 10 year anniversary of the African Youth Charter using our Twitter handle @AUYouthProgram and the hashtag #AUBanjulPlus10.
