For Immediate Release

Aug. 23, 2016

Media Contact: Emily Rodriguez, ERodriguez@ndi.org, (202) 728-5527

Regional Youth Consultations Focus on the Promotion of Human Rights in Africa

Washington, D.C.—Young men and women from across Africa will come together to discuss their concerns, insights and perspectives on advancing human rights on the continent during four regional youth consultations conducted respectively from August 23-September 30 in Accra, Ghana (West Africa); Windhoek, Namibia (Southern Africa); Kampala, Uganda (Central & East Africa); and Tunis, Tunisia (North Africa). The African Union’s Department of Political Affairs (AU DPA) with support from the National Democratic Institute, organized the consultations, under the theme of “Promoting Young People’s Rights towards the Attainment of Agenda 2063,” and will include over 120 youth leaders from youth-led and -oriented organizations implementing youth rights initiatives, youth media practitioners and prominent youth activists and researchers that have contributed to the African human rights movement. Youth leaders from diverse backgrounds  representing seven to 10 countries in each region are expected to attend these closed session events.

As this year commemorates the “African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the Rights of Women” for the AU, the meetings come at an important time. “These consultations provide youth leaders from across the African Union’s five sub-regions an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue and to network on policy matters affecting their lives,” said Keith Jennings, NDI Senior Associate and Regional Director for Southern and East Africa.

More information and updates on the proceedings of the consultations will be available on the African Union website www.au.int and the African Governance Architecture (AGA) website www.aga-platform.org. Conversations during the events can be followed on Twitter @AU_DPA and @AUProject2016 as well as through #Project2016 and #DGtrends.

NDI has been providing ongoing technical assistance and support to the operationalization of the AGA’s Youth Engagement Strategy - an action-oriented approach focused on elevating the voices and active participation of African youth on continental issues that affect their present as well as their future.  

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The National Democratic Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.