PREAMBLE:
WE, YOUNG PEOPLE attending the African Youth Forum under the theme “What Africa
can do now to Accelerate Youth Employment?” organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo
Foundation in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the United
Nations Population Fund, the Islamic Bank for Development, the World Bank, the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
On the sidelines of the 22nd Ordinary Assembly of the
African Union Head of States and Government, held at the UNECA Conference
Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the 29th January, 2014; Recognising the
centrality of Youth Employment and Empowerment to our holistic development as
individuals and to the development of Africa; Noting that young people aged
15-35 make up over 40 per cent of the continent’s population and that the right
investments in our education, health and employment will position Africa to
reap the demographic dividend Taking cognizance of regional and international
frameworks such as the African Youth Charter and its decade Plan of Action; the
Ouagadougou Declaration and its Plan of Action for the Promotion of Employment
and Poverty Alleviation; the Malabo Declaration on Acceleration Youth
Empowerment for Sustainable Development; the African Union Youth and Women
Employment Pact; the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD), the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population
and Development Beyond 2014 in Africa; the African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights; the youth consultations for Agenda 2063, as well as national
policies, which address youth employment and empowerment.
Acknowledging
progress made in implementing these frameworks and aware of ongoing review of
implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and work on the post 2015
development agenda; Mindful of our roles and responsibilities in our own
development and in the development of our respective countries and the
continent; Hereby adopt the following outcome statement:
