African Union Celebrates Africa Youth Day 2015 (November 1st 2015).

What: Africa Youth Day

Theme: “African Year of Human Rights towards Agenda 2063 –The Africa we want ”

When: 30 October 2015 – 1 November 2015

30-31 October: Youth Meetings

1st November: Celebration of the Africa Youth day

Who: The AU Youth day is organized by the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) of the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Pan-African Youth Union and Youth Alliance for Leadership in Africa (YALDA).

Where: African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objectives: The objectives of the celebration of the Africa Youth Day are as follows:

• Increase awareness, commitment and investment in youth development initiatives;
  Strengthen youth participation, partnerships and intercultural exchanges as well as understanding and among youth;
• Review and assess the commitments underscored in Agenda 2063 specifically focused on young women and their rights;
• Champion the work of young women in political, social and economic process; and
  Engage from the youth and Political organs in driving forward this agenda.

Participants:

The event will bring under the same roof 200 hundred young people from across the continent.

Expected outcomes: The expected outcomes of the 2015 Africa youth day are as follows:

· Participants understand Agenda 2063, and embrace it as part of their contribution to the development of the continent.

· Networking between different youth organizations/Experts

· Interactive/intellectual sharing on different mechanisms and experiences to strengthen the youth capacities in the continent

· An in-depth understanding of human rights, and the role of women in decision making processes

Background:

On the occasion of the African Youth Charter adoption in the Executive Council Decision of the Banjul Summit 2006 (DOC.EX.CL. /292 (IX) the 1st of November was proclaimed and instituted as ‘The Africa Youth Day.’

Africa Youth Day is a day set aside every year to promote the increased recognition of youth as key agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development in all areas of African Society. It is an occasion to celebrate the youth on the continent, opportunity to contribute and channel youth motivation, energy and creativity towards political, social and economic renewal.

The purpose of this event is also, to contribute and channel the youth voices, energy and idealism to reinforce the initiatives towards the achievement of sustainable development in Africa. The theme for this Year’s celebration is “African Year of Human Rights towards Agenda 2063 – the Africa We Want” with special focus on the rights of Young Women.

The chosen theme will nest on and magnify the preamble to the African Union First Ten-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063. This is an innovative approach designed to provide the big push and propel growth and transformation through fast tracking the implementation of programmes identified by Agenda 2063.

Follow the conversation online using our twitter handle @AUYouthProgram and our hashtag #AUYouthDay to spread the word.

For more information, please contact:

Ngwenya Nonkululeko Prudence| Senior Policy officer | Human Resources, Science and Technology Department | African Union Commission I E-mail: [email protected]

Media Contact: Habiba Benedicta Sule| Directorate of information and Communication | African Union Commission I Tel: +251922176382 E-mail: [email protected]

For further information:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: [email protected] I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia