Africa Union, youth take a seat at the table ahead of the AU Extraordinary Summit
CAPE TOWN: The African Union Department of Health, Humanitarian and
Social Affairs and The Office of the African Union Youth Envoy, in
collaboration with partners, hosted an AU humanitarian youth forum.In
here, the youth are also pledging conference ahead of the
scheduledAfrican Union Extraordinary Summit to be held in Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea from the 25th to the 28th of May 2022.
Chido Mpemba, the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy
commented:“It is my sincere hope as the Youth Envoy, that at the end of
this summit, we have deliberated a youth-centric humanitarian
architecture,a protocol on the free movement of persons and come up with
a
definitive, sustainable political resolution. This resolution
statement will incorporate our ideas and solutions and become a planof
action to integrate the youths in the overall summit outcomes.”
Organisers explain that the key objective of this forum aligns with
Aspiration 6 of the African Union Agenda 2063 and article 11 of the
African Youth Charter, by providing young people with the opportunity to
have their voices heard by key decision makers on key issues that are
to be deliberated at the summit.
Young people from all over Africa came to discuss the road that is
tobe taken towards inclusivity, integration and the advancement ofAfrica
as a whole.
“To achieve the Agenda 2063 and the Africa we want; we must
collectively seek solutions that will drive concrete political
actionfrom all duty bearers.” said The Youth Envoy. On the sidelines of
the event in Nairobi, the Youth Envoy held a consultation with the young
refugee’s policy group as part of her 60days listening tour campaign to
gain insights that will further contribute to the development of
youth-led, meaningful programs and plans of the African Union towards
achieving Agenda 2063.
Amb. King Adekunle, who is the Chair of the PRC Sub-Committee on
Refugees and IDPs had the following to say: “On developing the
sensitization strategy to the protocol on Free Movement of Persons,
there is a need to look at the benefits and challenges of the free
movement of people, especially as it relates to crime and security.”
And that Africa faces more humanitarian crises than any other
continent with over 282 million people experiencing food
relatedshortages while a further 32 million are displaced. These crises
have been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the
logistical challenges it presented.
Dr. Margaret Agama-Anyetei, Ag Director of Health and
HumanitarianAffairs Directorate, AUC said:“It is worrying that
humanitarian crises in Africa are increasing, millions of people require
humanitarian assistance. There is a need for collective action and
response, greater integration andmulti-sectoral humanitarian assistance
focused on root causes and
prevention.”
Also stated is that this event is a key milestone towards the
realization of the Agenda 2063 and empowering young people to takepart
in the deliberation of key issues to that effect.
“We need member states to involve the youth to co-lead, co-develop
and co-create tangible solutions to solve the humanitarian crises and
threats.”- The Youth Envoy said in closing.
The recommendations set forward in this forum will inform the heads ofstates’ meeting in the upcoming summit in Malabo.
Chido Mpemba, is the youngest diplomat at the African Union
Commission. The Envoy is mandated to serve as a representative of and
advocate for the voices and interests of African youth to the
relevantAfrican Union decision-making bodies.
The Youth Envoy’s office also engages African Youth on the
continent and in the diaspora to draw them towards supporting and
promoting positive social change, intergenerational dialogue and
concrete action for Africa’s development as underscored in Agenda 2063.
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