Addis Ababa, February 15, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - Human resources, Science and technology Commissioner of the African Union stressed the need for accelerating ratification of African Youth Charter by signatories in order to enter into force. The Commissioner also calls on African countries to organize various events to colorfully celebrate the year 2008, which is declared as Year of African youth.
The Commissioner, Prof. Nagia M.Essayed was speaking at the opening of the second Ordinary Session of the conference of the AU ministries in charge of youth here on Friday at the headquarters of AU.
The commissioner said though the African youth charter was adopted at Banjul Summit in 2006, so far only Rwanda, Mali Gabon have ratified it.
According the commissioner at least 15 countries should ratify the charter in order to enter in to force. Some 16 countries including Benin, Burundi, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mali, Togo and Senegal adopted the charter.
“We hope that ratification will happen before the end of 2008 and make the year really the year of African Youth”, she said.
Prof. Nagia said the year will be celebrated in various events that highlight and promotes the importance of the youth to overall development under the theme “Youth and Peace for Development”
The year will also magnify importance of youths’ role in ensuring cohesion, complimentary and cooperation with a view to ensuring the full development of the continent.
She urged member countries of AU to organize events that highlights activities of youth.
The Banjul summit also declared 1st of November will be observed as African Youth Day as of 2008.
Chairperson of the confrence said that significant progress has been made since the adoption of the youth charter. The charter will play a significant role to make youth’s future promising, he added.
The charter, which is said as major achievement of the AU Ministries in charge of the youth, is an instrument to build the future of the youth. The charter underlines rights, duties, and freedoms of youth.
It also paves the way for the development of national programs. It will ensure the constructive involvement of youth in the development agenda of Africa and their effective participation in the debates and decision making process in the development of the continent.
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