CONCEPT NOTE

“Enhancing Youth Contribution towards Effective Implementation of the Action Plan on the Human and Peoples’ Rights Decade in Africa”

21 October 2017
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
I. Background
1. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights entered into force on 21 October 1986. This instrument is the basis for the African Human Rights System. It embraces the aspirations of the African people for an effective and consistent human rights and freedoms. Following its entry into force, 21 October of every year had been set aside to commemorate the Africa Human Rights Day. The commemoration is meant to amongst other things, reflect on human rights situation on the continent, and to recommit AU Member States to the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.

2. At the 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held on 17-18 July 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda, the AU Assembly adopted a Decision (Assembly/AU/Decl.1/(XXVII)Rev.1,) which, Declared 2017-2027 as the “Human and Peoples’ Rights Decade in Africa. The Assembly thereafter, instructed the members of the Human Rights and Transitional Justice Cluster of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) to take the lead in developing Human and Peoples’ Action and Implementation Plan for Africa. This Plan is meant to be one of the strategies for accomplishing the Agenda 2063.

3. In this regard, the members of the Human Rights and Transitional Justice Cluster of the AGA embarked on the development of the Ten-Year African Human Rights Action and Implementation Plan. The Plan aims to operationalize the above referenced Assembly Declaration. Aspiration six (6) of the AU Agenda 2063 envisages an Africa where development is people-driven, unleashing the potential of its youth. The creativity, energy and innovation of African youth are therefore expected to be among the driving force(s) behind the continent’s political, social, cultural and economic transformation.

4. At the seventh Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, in Banjul, The Gambia, the African Youth Charter was adopted on 2 July 2006. The Charter aims at promoting youth participation in policy development and implementation. Year 2016 marked the tenth anniversary of the African Youth Charter and in this same year, the AU Assembly adopted a decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.601 (XXVI)) in January 2016 that devoted 2017 to “Harnessing the Africa Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth”. All these clearly demonstrate the AU’s commitment to youth development in all spheres of life and the crucial role of the youth with respect to the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.

II. Justifications
a. The African Union is adopting a multi-stakeholder approach to the development and implementation of the Ten-Year African Human Rights Action Plan. Consultations for the development of this Action Plan have therefore been structured to include a broad range of stakeholders, especially the youth. Through this inclusive process, a legitimate Ten-Year Human Rights Action Plan will be developed.

b. Currently, 60% of the continent’s population are youth and this population needs to be part of the Africans that will shape and implement the Ten-Year African Human Rights Action Plan

c. The theme of the year 2017 is dedicated to the youth and it is in conformity with this theme that the commemoration of the African Human Rights Day 2017 is focusing on the youth.

d. The youth are key actors in the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa and their contribution towards the development and implementation of the Africa Ten-Year Human and Peoples’ Rights Action Plan is of vital importance.

III. Objectives
The overarching objective of 2017 Human Rights Day is to deepen the culture of Human and Peoples’ Rights in African youth:
Specific objectives include, to:
a. Raise awareness among youth on the draft Ten-Year African Human and Peoples’ Rights Action and Implementation Plan;

b. Provide the required space for African youth to contribute to the development and implementation of the Ten-Year Action Plan;

c. Agree on the role of youth in the implementation of the Action Plan.

IV. Expected Results

a. An increased awareness among the African youth on the Africa Ten-Year Human and Peoples’ Action and implementation Plan;

b. Contribution of the African Youth to the development of the Action Plan;

c. Secured Commitment from the African Governments and African youth on youth involvement in the implementation of the Decade Plan of Action.

V. Methodology
5. This year’s commemoration will take the form of a plenary session, during which, there will be a lead presentations on the draft Ten-Year Human and Peoples’ Rights Action Plan and the youth present will interrogate the presentation- ask questions and make inputs into the draft Plan and indicate in a clear term, how they will participate in the implementation of the Plan.

VI. Venue and participants
The event will be held at the headquarters of the AU Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Participants will include African youth from different universities, Secondary Schools and youth focused Civil Society Organisations in Ethiopia. Members of the AU Permanent Representative Committee (PRC), Representatives of Diplomatic Corps and international development organisations in Ethiopia will also attend the commemoration.

Programme

SATURDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2017
Medium Conference Hall
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
8:30 – 9:00 ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS
9:00 – 9:05 Welcome Remarks by the Representative of the PRC
9:05 – 9:10 Statement by Mme. Letty Chiwara – UN Women Representative to Ethiopia, AU and UNECA
9:10 – 9:15 Statement by Mr. Jonas Helth Lønborg, Political Counsellor for regional affairs in the the Royal Danish Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

9:15 – 9:20 Statement of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Opening Declaration of the Africa Human rights Day
9:20 – 10:20 Presentation of the Draft Ten-Year African Human and Peoples’ Rights Action Plan by Dr. Kahbele Matlosa, Director of Political Affairs, African Union Commission
10:20– 12:30 Questions, Comments and Contributions
12:30 – 12:50 Presentation of Summary Outcome of the Commemoration
12:50 – 13:00 Closing Remarks by the Commissioner for Political Affairs
13:00 Tea break and snacks