WHAT:     Virtual Launch of Youth Silencing the Guns Campaign

THEME:   Advancing Youth Roles and  Capacities to Silence the Guns in Africa

WHEN:     Friday, 24th July, 2020

TIME:      15:00h – 16:30h East African Time (EAT)

Register link https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ry-d0US2TZOXq7B8-VvYAQ

#SilencingtheGun #AfricaYouthLead

WHO:  The Africa Union through the The Peace and Security Department and the AU Office of Youth Envoy (OYE) in collaboration with the Human Resource Science and Technology Department and the Department of Political Affairs.

High- Level Panalists 

Moderator by Dr Admore Kambudzi, Director, Peace and Security Department

Keynote Address by H.E. Ambassador Smail Chergui, Commissioner, Peace and Security, AUC

 

Statements by:

  • H.E. Prof Sarah Agbor – Commissioner, Human Resources, Science and Technology, AUC
  • General Francis Behanzin – Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission
  • Chair of the AU Permanent Representative Committee – South Africa’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and African Union
  • Chair of the Peace and Security Council – Burundi’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and African Union
  •  
  • Ms. Hanna Tetteh – Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UN Office to the AU
  • Ms. Aya Chebbi – African Union Chairperson’s Special Envoy on Youth
  • Ms. Emma Ng’ang’aAfrican Youth Ambassador for Peace, East Africa

 

 

Background and Objective

The main aim of the youth silencing the guns campaign is to provide a platform to mobilize the development and support of key actions that can be undertaken by youth to fast track the implementation of the Silening the Gun Agenda in Africa. Specifically, the objectives are to:

  • Identify the roles and key activities that the youth can play to advance the STG agenda;
  • Foster intergenerational co-leadership on silencing the guns and promotion of governance, peace, security and development;
  • Identify the challenges and gaps that hinder the effective participation and contributions of the youth to silencing the guns;
  • Provide policy and action-oriented recommendations to address the identified challenges and barriers to youth’s participation, as well as maximise opportunities and enhance their contributions.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

Declaration on key actions to be undertaken by youth, which will feed into the deliberations of the Extraordinary Session of Heads of State and Government on the theme of the year;

  • Recommendations to policy makers to advance the participation and contributions of youth in Silencing the Guns;
  • Support for youth-led projects and activities that contributes to advancing the silencing the guns agenda.

 

Campaign Activities 

 

  • Official launch of the Youth Silencing the Guns campaign – 24th July 2020 at 15:00 East Africa Time;
  • Five regional consultations hosted by RECs/RMs on the roles of youth on silencing the guns – 10th to 14th August 2020;
  • Bi-monthly social media sensitization engagements with youth on AUMR at national, regional or continental levels;
  • Youth Silencing the Guns Awards Call launch and selection – August 2020
  • Commemoration of International Day of Peace – 21 September 2020;
  • Youth Innovation challenge on democracy and governance – Currently ongoing;
  • AGA youth consultations on the theme of the year – Oct 2020
  • PSC session on Youth Peace and Security (YPS) in commemoration of Africa Youth Month – November 2020;
  • Side-event on the margins of the extraordinary summit of the Assembly in December 2020

 

For further information contact

Lulit Kebede / Peace and Security Department /Communication Officer/African Union Commission Tel.: 251911211183 / Email: lulitk@africa‐union.org

Ms. Raghda Elshaloudy| Communication assistant| Office of the Youth Envoy| African Union Commission | E-mail: ElshaloudyR@africa-union.org

Media Contact: Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer-Agenda 2063 | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchiengJ@africa-union.org|