Joint Press Conference /Invitation to the Journalists

Journalists are invited to participate in a press conference on the African Observatory for Policy Practice and Youth Studies scheduled to take place on Friday 18 October 2013 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in Briefing room 1, at 4:00 pm

The Press Conference is jointly organized by the Youth Division of the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) of the African Union Commission (AUC), the UN Habitat and the African Observatory for Policy Practice and Youth Studies.

The joint press conference will be addressed by:

1. H.E Dr Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner HRST
2. MR. Ahmad Alhendawy, UNSG Envoy on Youth

The issues to be addressed during the joint press conference are the following:

• Highlights of the Envoy’s Visit to Africa and the AUC
• Dossier of the Envoy and Africa’s narrative
• Emerging opportunities for consolidated UN-AU collaboration on Youth

BACKGROUND

The new strategic plan 2014-2017 has made the bold move to position youth at the center of the continents efforts towards sustainable growth and development and in shaping an intergenerational approach for the 2063 Africa Strategy.

The visit of the UN Envoy to the AU aims among others to seek:

a) The support of the AU Commission, in the engagement of its member states at all levels in the recent efforts at the UN, and building from the Mexico 2010 World Youth Conference, the 2011 UN High level meeting on Youth and towards the 2014 Sri-Lanka World Youth Conference.
b) Explore opportunities for strengthening the voices of Africa’ youth through the AUC within a UN System-wide Plan of Action on Youth at the General Assembly
c) Forge strategic alliance with relevant AUC Departments and Programmes in strengthening the narrative to support Africa’s position.