AU turns to youth for major policy initiatives

The African Union will mark its 50th anniversary this year with a symposium on the theme “Pan Africanism and African Renaissance” from May 22-25, 2013, in Addis Ababa, a press release has said.

The objective of the symposium is to provide a platform for dialogue between selected African Heads of state and young people on major policy initiatives.

According to the AU, this is of particular significance in view of its observance of the Africa Youth decade 2009-2018.

The AU said the forum will “bring young people at the heart of social and political discourse to enable them to make contributions to current policy debates.”

More importantly, it is intended to promote a youth focused policy priority and support the vision of youth development among the urgent actions by African Heads of state, it added.

The press release further stated that, a defining feature of Africa’s independence movements and unification was the commitment and struggle by youth led movements.

By Dorcas Appiah