Silencing the guns: Youth building a culture of democracy and peace in Africa

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Press Release

Nairobi – Today, 15 September 2014, is the International Democracy Day. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Engaging young people on Democracy”. More than 100 young people from across the African continent will commemorate the day in Nairobi, Kenya in a special way.

They are part of select group of youth leaders attending a three day consultation on “Silencing the Guns: Youth building a culture of democracy and peace in Africa.” The consultation is convened under the auspices of the African Governance Architecture and Platform of the African Union.

The young people are responding to the call by African leaders to end all wars on the continent and silence all guns by 2020 as part of the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration of May 2013. The ambitious aspiration seeks to end violent conflicts in Africa by strengthening democratic governance institutions and inculcating a culture of peace democracy.

The objective of the consultation is to tap into the creativity, passion and entrepreneurial spirit of young people in Africa to address governance challenges and deepen democratic governance on the continent. It is borne out of realization by the African Union that strengthening democratic governance and attaining sustainable peace and development can only be sustained by the active and meaningful engagement of young people. At least 60% of Africa’s population is young.

The continent’s greatest resource for the sustenance of democracy and peace is therefore its young people. The Youth consultation at Safari Park Hotel Nairobi is part of a series of participatory engagements with young people, women, civil society, Member States and indeed all stakeholders towards the Third High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance.

The theme of the High Level Dialogue is “Silencing the Guns: Strengthening Democratic Governance to Prevent, Manage and Resolve Conflicts in Africa. It is scheduled for 30 – 31 October, 2014 in Dakar, Senegal. The High Level Dialogue and pre-consultations are convened by the African Union in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and GIZ.

The youth pre-forum event will be opened by Hon. Anne Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, Government of Kenya.

For more information, please contact Ibraheem ‘Bukunle Sanusi: + 254 718 415 329; sanusii@africa-union.org/ ibghandi2001@gmail.com or visit the website http://pa.au.int/en/,www.dgtrends.org and also follow live updates on @AUC_DPA and the hashtag #DGTrends