Addis Ababa Declaration

Pre-ADF IV Symposium on Youth and Governance

Preamble

We, the youth drawn from a cross-section of organisations/movements and networks at the national, sub-regional, regional level and from the diaspora at the pre-ADF IV Youth Symposium, speaking on behalf of youths of Africa, here and now commit ourselves to contribute to building a better Africa. We dedicate ourselves to take advantage of all opportunities for our development including empowering ourselves to think freely, to be self-sufficient, to live in good health, to have access to education, and to play our part in the achievement of good governance in Africa.

We are interested in actively participating in the reconstruction of our continent, so that we can prepare ourselves to be tomorrow’s leaders starting today.

HIV/AIDS

We acknowledge the effort that has already been invested in combating HIV/AIDS, and we believe that a common fight against this pandemic will be the only effective mechanism. Therefore, we propose the following:

• that each African country have youth friendly policies on HIV/AIDS which should be practically translated into effective programmes at the national level with a view to enhance access to affordable and quality health services and care;

• that support for youth organizations increases, and that all interested actors engage youth in true partnerships to ensure independence and sustainability of programmes, strategies and priorities for capacity building;

• that youths are empowered through the incorporation of adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights education into the school curriculum and community and traditional forums and activities;

On our part we commit ourselves to enhance discussions about HIV/AIDS so that people living with HIV/AIDS are not stigmatized, and also involve other young people in this struggle.

Education and Employment

We believe that education and employment are essential to self-development and to the eventual creation of capable states. We also recognize the role of informal education in the development process. We propose the following:

• that states ensure quality and relevance of education to the labour market requirements so that graduates find meaningful employment in their community;

• that the culture of entrepreneurship is encouraged through creative solutions like Small and Medium Enterprise support systems targeting youths,

• that we maximize the opportunities for education and employment through the use of Information and Communication Technologies to further Africa’s development needs.

• that the work place is conducive through outlawing discriminatory practices against youth and sexual harassment by instituting mechanisms and processes to report abuse and get redress.

On our part, we commit to develop our skills and capacities to enable us to play our role in nation building and in the rebirth of Africa.

Democracy and Governance

We recognize and appreciate the efforts within Africa towards improved governance, if the lessons learnt are to be sustainable and have incremental value youth must be given more space to participate. We therefore propose the following:

• that there be more meaningful participation of youth in the public decision making process, within social institutions including government, the private sector and civil society. Youth must be involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of public policies;

• that youth should be mainstreamed within structures and process of government and sub-regional, regional and international intergovernmental organisations,

• that within the framework of the African Union and NEPAD, youth develop an African Youth Charter;

• that to hasten the development of National Youth Policies in all African countries, a prototype National Youth Policy be developed that can be adapted to the realities of each country.

• that initiatives be supported and encouraged that allow all African Youth to feel like a living part of Africa, and that whatever their sector or cultural setting, they strive to, and are, contributing to the healing and true emancipation of the continent.

On our part we commit to practice good governance within our own institutions, which entail participation, transparency, accountability, fairness, efficiency and decency.

Conclusion

• Embracing Good Governance creates opportunities for an African renaissance to emerge, fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of the African youth. We are preparing and committing to the realization of this moment when the African Youth will become free from the shackles of poverty – to a world where we will have a chance to make something of ourselves and become effective leaders of our nations.

Done, in Addis Ababa
10th October 2004