AFI Changemakers Young African Leaders Summit at the 48th Human Rights Council

2021

Ariel Foundation International Changemakers Young African Leaders Summit Side Event on Human Rights

48th Human Rights Council United Nations Geneva

ARIEL FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL www.arielfoundation.org

Acknowledgments

ARIEL FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL www.arielfoundation.org

Despite our different backgrounds and African origins, the Ariel Foundation International (www.arielfoundation.org) gave us the platform at the United Nations Human Rights Council to share our thoughts on the promotion and protection of different Human Right practices in Africa.

As passionate young African leaders, we believe matters raised in this report shall be a stepping-stone to guarantee a world free from injustice, stigmatization, and any kind of inequality.

Special thanks: Dr. Ariel Rosita King, President of Ariel Foundation International (AFI) for the love of African Youth and Children along with their subsequent well-being. Her support, encouragement, kindness and guidance have had a great impact and inspiration on our lives and towards this publication.

Ms. Amparo Marí Adsuara for the unwavering will to edit, compile and publish this alluring report.

Ariel Foundation International is a global leader for international humanitarian change. Further, to inspire leadership of youth and children, AFI through its Change makers programme (www.changemakers-un.org) has a Special ECOSOC Status with the United Nations in New York, Vienna and Geneva.

African Orphan Educational Foundation

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Report Written By: Abednego Brandy Opey Abigail Oppong (AFI Youth Ambassador) Amina Ali Chinenye Ajayi, Jeremiah Thoronka Lilian Efobi Mugisa Aloysius Mary Muzira Daisy Rogers Omollo Okoh Wisdom Nneouma Sama Ramy Sobhi Shantal Kisimba Dr. Ariel R. King

Index Acknowledgments Young Leaders Abigail Oppong Amina Ali Chinenye Ajayi Daisy Muzira Jeremiah Thoronka Lilian Elochukwu Efobi Mugisa Aloysius Mary Rogers Omollo Okoh Wisdom Nneoma Opey Abednego Brandy Sama Ramy Sobhi Shalom Pomenya Dzokoto Shantal Kisimba

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Words From Founder

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Dr. Ariel Rosita King MEMBER OF EUROCHILD, SPECIAL ECOSOC STATUS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND NGO STATUS AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The Ariel Foundation International is a Non Governmental Organization 501(c)(3) founded in 2002.

The Foundation promotes partnerships, peace and prosperity through entrepreneurship via education, experience through service, leadership and support of children, young people and their communities worldwide.

Ariel Foundation International is a member of Eurochildand special ECOSOC Status.

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Changemakers

We conduct two major programs in AFI: CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAMS • Leadership and Participation • AFI Changemakers (UN/ EU/ AU and Parliaments) • Side Events (UN/EU/AU and Parliament) • Experience through service • Youth World Ambassadors • International Health Ambassadors • Women Entreprenuers

CHILDREN ONLY PROGRAMS • Partnership with Ariana-Leilani Children's Foundation • Ariana’s Closet (re-purposing of clothing, school uniforms and eye glasses) • Technology and Arts Camps (in country with language and culture) • Orphan and Vulnerable Children Support (OVC) • Readers Lead and Leaders Read • Children Ambassadors for Mediation and Mental Health For further information, please visit arielfoundation.org

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48th Human Rights Council United Nations Geneva

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48th Human Rights Council United Nations Geneva

07TH OCTOBER 2021 Ariel Foundation International

Changemakers Young African Leaders Summit Side Event on Human Rights

JOIN US ON ZOOM Meeting ID 583 823 5936 10:30 h. CET

ARIEL FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL www.arielfoundation.org

ARIEL FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

Ms. Abigail Oppong Ghana PRESENTATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUIDING AMONG YOUTHS: TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD

Ms. Amina Ali South Africa INCLUSION AND PROTECTION OF YOUTHS IN THE AFRICAN ENERGY TRANSITION: A BASIC RIGHT

Ms. Chinenye Ajayi Nigeria PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS : ACCESS TO CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY

Ms. Daisy Muzira ENDING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES

Uganda

Mr. Jeremiah Thoronka Sierra Leone ENDING ENERGY POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN AFRICA - HOW CAN WE DO BETTER?

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Ms. Lilian Elochukwu Efabi ACT NOW: VIENNA DECLARATION 1993

Nigeria

Mr. Mugisa Aloysius Mary RIGHTS TO INFORMATION A BASIC NEED TO EVERY AFRICAN

Uganda

Kenya

Ms. Okoh Wisdom Nneoma EMPOWERING GIRL CHILD EDUCATION IN AFRICA

Nigeria

Presentations

Mr. Rogers Omollo MEANINGFUL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE

Mr. Opey Abednego Brandy Ghana ENDING INEQUALITIES AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Ms. Sama Ramy Sobhi DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS IN AFRICA

Egypt

Shalom Pomenya Dzokoto STOP RACISM NOW!

Ghana

Ms. Shantal Kisimba MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICA AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

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Kenya

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Dr. Ariel Rosita King PhD, MPH, MBA, DTM&H AFI FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT (USA - FRANCE)

Dr. King was chosen to be on the Expert AIDS Prevention working Group with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA) and Human Science Research Council (South Africa).

Prof. Dr. Ariel R. King is the Founder, and President Ariel Consulting International, Inc. founded in 2000, a company that creates and enhances Public-Private Partnerships in international health, policy, and management with focus on developing countries. She also founded The Ariel Foundation International founded in 2002 as a non-profit organization with an international focus on children and youth in Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Community Service world-wide. More recently, in 2008 Dr. King founded the Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International to educate and advocate for Children’s Human Rights Worldwide.

Dr. Ariel King now as President of AFI, which has Economic, Cultural and Social Council (ECOSOC) status, has been a representative for various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations in Geneva, the United Nations in Vienna (UNOV) and United Nations in New York. Dr. King’s life focus is on the worlds children and youth.

Dr. King has over 35 years of experience in international health, international public health policy and international management in government, business and NGOs. As a Professor in International Health, Management, Policy and Environment she has taught at Universities in the USA, Europe and Africa.

Dr. King has published on the topics of Kangaroo Newborn Baby Care, International Health Policy and Management, Medical Ethics, Organ Transplantation, National Essential Drugs Policy, HIV/AIDS; Breast Cancer; Violence Against Women; Youth UN Participation and Children’s Human Rights.

Dr. King was a part of SAHARA: Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research as the Chair of the Continental Advisory Board, and worked on forging public private partnerships, including a MOI

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between University of Bayreuth (Germany) and SAHAA. She was on the Friends of Madagascar Advisory Council (FOMAC) led by the late Madagascar Ambassador to the USA, H. E. Ambassador Jocelyn Radifera. Dr. King’s focus is on International Public-Private Partnerships in Development that has its foundation of 35 years of living and working in 11 countries and traveling to over 65 countries in Asia, Africa, Americas, Middle-East, Americas and Europe.

Dr. King is currently a Trustee of CRAE- Children’ Rights Alliance of England. She has also represented the International Council of Women (Paris) at various UN meetings and has served on the Boards of Directors including currently, the Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) based in London, UK; and had served on the board of directors of the National Black Women’s Health Project (Atlanta, USA), Positive Art: Women and Children with HIV/AIDS (South Africa), The Life Foundation: AIDS Foundation of Hawaii, The Black Alliance for AIDS Prevention, the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care, Inc., and the Ronald McDonald House. Dr. King is a Founding and Board member of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), member of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group (WFPG), and has been active member of various International Rotary Clubs for fifteen years.

Dr. King is currently completing a research degree (PhD). She also has completed advance certificates in the study of Children’s Human Rights, from the UER Droits de l’enfant/Children’s Rights Unit, Institut Universitaire Kurt Bösch (IUKB) in Switzerland.

Dr. King holds a Diploma Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H); Doctorate (PhD) in Philosophy in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London; a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in International Health Management from Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management, Master in Public Health (MPH) in international Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health; and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Hawaii.

Dr. King is the very proud mother the 11-year old “Little Ambassador” Ariana-Leilani Margarita Alexandra KingPfeiffer, whose life has inspired the founding of the Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International (2008) to educate and advocate for children’s human rights worldwide. (Updated October 2014)

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H. E. Ambassador Ireneo Namboka BOARD OF DIRECTOR, CHAIR (FRANCE) Rtd. UN Staff – ( June, 2010 after 15 years of service) Mr. Namboka participated in three United Nations peacekeeping operations: Haiti, Rwanda and Liberia. He was Desk Officer for Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia at the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) HQ, Geneva (1998/2003. He was the Regional Programme Officer for the Southern Africa (SADC) regional office of OHCHR in Pretoria from February 2003 to June 2004. In July 2004 Mr. Namboka joined the United Nations Department for Peacekeeping (DPKO) in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as the Protection Advisor and served till June 2010.

Since leaving the full time United Nations service in June 2010, Mr. Namboka has maintained activities in the defense of human rights, transitional justice, peace-building through creative writing, training module designing and conference work. From March to September 2012 Mr. Namboka served as the international consultant (Advisor) to the Co-Chairmen of the Provisional Commission of reflection on national réconciliation, Guinea.

As an expert with UNITAR on the protection of civilians in post conflict- countries he developed a Training Module for serving and intending Peacekeeping military, police and civilian personnel, mainly in Africa including taking part in the documentary realized by the Government of Australia and UNITAR. In 2008, Mr. Namboka served on special assignment as Senior Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) in the United Nations Office for West Africa (2008) in the capacity of Head of the Human Rights and Gender Affairs division – June to October.

Mr. Namboka has conducted a wide range of workshops and seminars for government officials, police and military as well as for members of civil society/ non-governmental organisations. Currently he part of the team of trainers with the King’s College of London NGO – Africa Office based in Nairobi Kenya. Prior to joining the United Nations service Mr. Namboka served in the Uganda diplomatic service for 13 years starting in 1974 under the Idi Amin Dada regime at headquarters and abroad at the Ugandan missions in Gabon, Great Britain and France.

Mr. Namboka is an alumni of Makerere University, (BA Hon. Political Science); University of Paris I – Sorbonne Pantheon (Ėtudes du 3ème Cycle Droit – International Public); Centre d’Études Supériuères Industrielles (CESI)Aix en Provence –MA; United Nations Staff College, Turin – Italy and the United Nations University, Amaan- Jordan(Diplomas). He attended King’s College Budo, Bishop’s Senior School, Mukono in Uganda and received the specialized endurance and leadership training from the East African Outward Bound Mountain School, Loitokitok, Kenya. He is a holder of the highest Boy Scout’s badge in his country.

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H. E. Ambassador Molelekeng Ernestina Rapolaki BOARD OF DIRECTOR, VICE CHAIR (LESOTHO)

H.E. Ambassador Molelekeng Ernestina Rapolaki assumed her assignment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United States of America in December 2001 until 2008. Since the end of her term, Ambassador Rapolaki has been the Ambassador-in-Residence at Winston-Salem State University. She is also accredited to Brazil, Canada and Mexico on a non – residential basis.

She completed her BA degree in Economics at the National University of Lesotho in 1980 and obtained her MPA with specialization in Population Policy at the University of Southern California in the U.S. in 1993.

Prior to her appointment as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United States, She held the following positions in the Ministry of Development Planning: • Planning Officer, 1980-1985; Senior Planning Officer, 1985 – 1987; Director of Economic Policy, 1987 – 1992; Director of Population and Manpower Planning, 1994 – 1997 and that of Principal Secretary of the Ministry, 1997-2001.

• The Ambassador led the process of establishment of the Department of Economic Policy within the Ministry of Development Planning in 1987.

• She spearheaded the establishment of the Department of Population and Manpower Planning in the same Ministry in 1994.

• She won a research awarded on Population Policy Communication from the Population Reference Bureau in Washington D.C. in 1993.

• She contributed Chapters on Population, Health, Education and Mining Sectors in the Economic Options for Lesotho published by the Institute of Southern African Studies (ISAS) at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) in 1997.

• She wrote and presented a keynote address on Lesotho’s Economic review since independence for Vision 2020 forum held in January 2001.

• She also received Women who Make a Difference Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. USA in 2002.

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H. E. Ambassador Izben Williams BOARD OF DIRECTOR (SAINT KITTS & NEVIS

Highlights of educational/professional and civic-society development of Ambassador Izben Williams.

Tertiary Education: University of Toronto, University of the West Indies, University of Miami, and the George Washington University.

Trained in General Medicine, Psychiatry and Public Health.

Practiced General Medicine and General & Forensic Psychiatry between 1977 and present.

Psychiatrist-in-Chief at St. Kitts & Nevis’, main Hospital from 1992.

Adjunct faculty at University of the West Indies, and at Windsor University School of Medicine 1997-2001.

Chairman, Inter-American Drug Abuse Commission 1995-1998.

Accredited St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the USA, and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) 2001. Demitted office 2011.

Advisor, Department of Hemispheric Security, Organization of American States (2011-2012) Founder and President of The Ripple Institute SKN (2012); a social development NGO whose essential purpose is the wholesome development of children and youth.

Rejoined Windsor University School Medicine 2014 and currently Professor and Head in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Medical Ethics; Clinical Preceptor in Psychiatry; Chair of Faculty Affairs and Development.

Elected by the Board of Trustees of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2019, an International Fellow of the APA .

Co-founder and President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation (SKNCF). SKNCF founded in 2019 and inducted into the full membership of The World Chess Federation (FIDE) in February 2020.

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Mr. Joseph Bonner BOARD OF DIRECTOR

Joseph Bonner is an experienced mental health coach dedicated to supporting and comforting the international community through his nationally syndicated podcast the “Joseph Bonner Show, and his international magazine, the Joseph Magazine.

Joseph Bonner PR is unique PR and Publicity Agency with clients in industries including non-profit, corporate, music, media, and entertainment.

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Member

A humanitarian young African woman who passionately work to impact life.

She is a Young Speaker, Mentor, Changemaker, Young Activist, Motivator and a Social Entrepreneur.

Abigail Oppong

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Abigail Oppong is the Youth Ambassador for Ariel Foundation International focusing on Africa and making the voices of African Voices heard. She has worked as the Young General Secretary for Young Africa Women in Leadership (YAWL), Ghana working as a secretary to help empower more women in Ghana and the world at large.

As the Director of communication and Development at Tieme Ndo, she focuses on empowering more women and youths in the field of Agriculture and help them to develop economically.

Being a changemaker, she is passionate about social impacts project that seeks to empower women, children and youth. She is the Co-Founder for Universal Care for Africa, an initiative aiming to provide a free healthcare opportunity for the rural communities in Africa. Coordinator for the African Women Leadership Forum (AWLF).

Passionate about women in Technology, she is working diligently to provide young girls the needed resources for them to stand firm in the STEAM Courses and professionally.

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Abigail is skilled at Information Technology, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian, leadership, Personal Development, Public Speaking.

Background

Challenges of life as a Young African lady, growing up in the continent of Africa where the girl child education wasn’t prioritized has given her a much-presented experience for her to give back to community in empowering women and girls whiles firing in more energy to serve as a role Model and help Youths in Africa think differently.

She is a Recipients of the “Young Leaders Creating a better World for All award” at the Women Economic Forum, 2019 and the first youngest leader to receive such an international award from the Women Economic Forum.

Her Next Movement is to Global Initiative to help more youths especially the young leader to be the “PRO” in their fields as a leader. She is a Role Model to all Young Women out there. An inspiration and a world changer.

One word that encourages her everyday is the fact that, “our capabilities and abilities are enough to help us scale and make an impact; money will not.

Money can not buy our passion”. She said this when someone asked her how she gets all her impactful work done as a Youth and still in school.

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Abigail Oppong

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PRESENTATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUIDING AMONG YOUTHS: TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD

Connectivity and innovation in technology are transforming how organizations and governments operate.

Technology is changing the way in which things are done to create more impact. Tech for social good can be a significant enabler of increased diversity and inclusion in tech. It also provides mechanisms for people to access or use technologies in an open, cost efficient, and sustainable way. Whiles many NGO’s have adopted these technologies to help them leverage on their impacts, how do we also make sure the underprivileged also get access to these technologies.

When people in the community are given the technical and capacity building to design their own technologies, the impacts become more because they solved the problems for themselves, but when there is less. We can not have a “I think this will fit”, we want to have, “I helped them get the skills, and they developed their own solutions” Are there systems put in place to help change makers? The level at which civil societies have access to the needed technology and capacity building to help them few years to come is threatening. Many activists, civil servants and changemakers lack the technical capacity needed for them to do their work successfully which later lands them in all sorts of “bad people”.

Years to come, the youths will take over and would need to continue what current leaders left behind, hence we need to have them involved, think about the youths and make gaining technical skills and capacities flexible.

Leveraging on the Technical Assistance and capacity building of the Youths is a necessity for the current youths to help them prepare for the future tasks ahead.

How well are leaders involving young leaders in this world of growing technologies. It is hard time the UN finds interest to embrace people working in these field to work more.

Whiles technology comes with its own advantages to communities, it also has its disadvantages. I will be addressing a few with respect to AI Technologies. The biases arising from data fed into machines to build the Natural language processing and machine learning systems.

My presentation will be linked to the Issues of women as listening to presentations from UN Executive Women Board, I see so many goals and aspirations being planned to be executed, but how prepared are they to face the world of technology for social good? Are they involving the right researchers? Remember equitable systems and structures are fundamental to women’s social justice and hence. It would be great for them to also look into this.

“It is past time for researchers to prioritize energy efficiency and cost to reduce negative environmental impact and inequitable access to resources” Timnit Gebru

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Member

Demonstrated history of working in the think tanks industry.

Skilled in Leadership, Foreign Policy Analysis, Diplomacy, and Public Speaking.

Amina Ali

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Current position: International Energy Fellow at the African Energy Chamber.

Africa's demand for affordable and reliable energy is expected to multiply exceedingly, considering its relatively young population. Currently, 60% of Africa’s population fall under the age of 25, not forgetting its rising urbanization.

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It sparks my interest that young people who are essential at this stage of transitioning cannot be present amongst us in these online conversations because the reality is that majority of the African youth are living without access to electricity. Despite this deprivation, these young Africans are expected to be our future leaders who bring about impactful change in our societies. The dream of being future leaders is far from being achieved if they are continually brought up in a disadvantaged environment without electricity connection.

Background

The global energy transition is upon us, and at the forefront of this transition is the need for young Africans to lead the way. As we shift to a low carbon world, meeting the growing energy demand will require revolutionary thinking by young Africans to determine the future they want to live in– This is more a right, than a privilege.

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Amina Ali

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INCLUSION AND PROTECTION OF YOUTHS IN THE AFRICAN ENERGY TRANSITION: A BASIC RIGHT

The IEA (International Energy Agency) on the 18th of May released the ‘Net-Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector', which outlines plans for the global energy sector to reach “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At the heart of achieving this laudable goal is the equipping and proper positioning of the African youth. Again, this can not be attained without access to clean and affordable electricity. Affordability is important, and as stated in the recently held UN HLDE that Energy poverty is not just about lack of access to clean energy. It also extends to being able to pay for it. That implies that energy security is a merger of both access and affordability.

We have millions of people on the African continent without electricity and we know that the lack of electricity poses significant challenges to economic growth and development, health services, and the possibilities for learning.

Furthermore, the negative impact of oil and gas has been an ongoing debate in the global arena as well as the campaign for use of renewable sources. The issue here is that the world is sometimes oblivious to the actual reality that of millions of Africa people are living without electricity. Whilst I take heed of the fact that oil has been a curse for some countries nevertheless, Africa has a chance to take the lessons learned and implement cleaner, safer and more sustainable use of natural-gas. Sometimes the advocacy for renewables leaves out the truth that solar and wind are not reliable for the level of development required in most African countries. The whole concept of renewables is fine, but fine only for the privileged. Most African countries lack the financial capacity to deploy these renewables on a large scale. The mission in guaranteeing the right to basic electricity is to support and make the governments work together with the dynamic private sector to unlock the continent's remarkable energy potential, including natural gas.

African government needs to elaborate energy plans for the next 50 years to keep the economy growing and meet the anticipated growth in demand. This initiative will improve Africa's energy infrastructure landscape, support economic growth, increase the international competitiveness of African economies, create permanent jobs through local content, and improve living standards. Such projects, if realized will be a step in the right direction. The goal is to develop an African tailor made approach to a cleaner energy future. The transition is closely linked with diversified energy systems, in which power is generated from an array of complementary, renewable, and non-renewable resources.

The African energy transition represents the opportunity to achieve energy security and alleviate energy poverty through the utilization of natural gas as a transition fuel, the increased renewable share of energy supply, and the development of off-grid and mini-grid infrastructure.

Young people have always been left out when deciding anything of utmost importance and this time around we need to amplify the voices of those from different regions – to be loud and strong, to ensure a just transition that considers the realities of both developing and developed economies.

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Member

As the Editor of the Electricity Law Reports - a compendium of decisions of Courts on Electricity Matters – and Electricity Digest - a Journal of articles on topical issues within the Nigerian Electricity Sector.

She has played pivotal roles in key electricity deals as transaction counsel for various power projects across different states in Nigeria.

Chinenye Ajayi

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She led the team that structured and advised several renewable energy companies in raising funds from the capital market.

Human rights have been described as rights that are inalienable and are required for the existence and survival of every human. In the light of the importance of electricity to every area of human endeavor, there is no gainsaying that electricity should be treated as a fundamental human right essential for human existence.

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Thus, the key question is: Should the right of access to clean and affordable electricity be formulated as a specific and express right within the framework of existing human rights laws? To date, there are no international treaties, particularly within Africa that specifically and expressly refer to access to clean and affordable energy as a fundamental human right. At best, they are regarded as being implied in international human right charters such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right (ACHPR). For instance, Article 22 of the ACHPR provides that ‘all peoples shall have the right to their economic, social and cultural development with due regard to their freedom and identity an in equal enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind’.

Similarly, Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.

Background

Electricity has become an integral part of every human activity. It is an inalienable resource required to run our day to day lives seamlessly and is a catalyst to industrial and economic development. Electricity is the bedrock that supports most sectors ranging from agriculture, business, medicine, infrastructure, education and technology. Despite the fundamental role of electricity in human lives, about 1 billion persons around the world do not have access to any form of electricity. 50% of this population are found in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Given the negative impact of greenhouse emissions on the climate and increased poverty rate, access to electricity means now means access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity.

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Chinenye Ajayi

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PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS : ACCESS TO CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY It is pertinent to state that access is clean and affordable electricity is key to the enjoyment of the above stated rights and should be a specific fundamental human right. To put it better, the inclusion of this right guarantees to very large extent the right to economic and social development. It also guarantees the ultimate right to life. This can be gleaned from the fact that the health and well-many Africans are adversely impacted by unclean cooking fuels, such as wood, charcoal, dung and coal, which causes indoor air pollution and respiratory diseases. Others do not have access to electrified health services.

Electricity allows for the pumping of clean groundwater; cooling systems for hot regions, food storage systems, and irrigation to promote agriculture. Electricity is also integral to the delivery of health services, such as sterilization, lighting for clinics, fans and refrigeration of vaccines. It is essential to power machineries for production and it promotes education through the use of communication gadgets like phones, computers, amongst others. These facilities are inarguably essential for viable human existence.

In the light of the above, it is proposed that: i.Access to clean and affordable electricity be made an express provision of ACHPR and other international treaties. This is to underscore the importance of such rights beyond the level of mere implication and to motivate member nations to take active steps towards ensuring that citizens have access to this all important right. ii. Efforts should be made to implore member nations to enshrine access to clean and affordable energy as an enforceable right. In most countries, particularly Nigeria, rights bothering on social and economic development are largely unenforceable. The enforceability of these rights, particularly, right to clean and affordable electricity will spur governments to deliberately channel resources towards setting up legal, financial and institutional framework to support the enjoyment of these rights. iii. It is no doubt that access to clean and affordable energy is at the heart of achieving sustainable development and overcoming poverty. Thus member nations should whilst taking into account their peculiar national circumstances be encouraged to : (a) Establish and strengthen national and regional arrangements for promoting accessibility clean energy sources; (b) Provide targeted subsidy arrangements to cater for indigent citizens who cannot afford access to electricity. (c) Develop locally available energy resources for greater energy diversification, in sustainable and cost-effective manner, whilst increasing use of renewable energy resources; (d) Provide electricity services based on grid extension and/or decentralized energy technologies, particularly in isolated areas. (e) Support equal access for women to sustainable and affordable energy technologies through the needs assessments, energy planning and the policy formulation at the local and national levels.

References i. https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/energy/op/parliamentarian_forum/bradbrook_hr.pdf. ii. https://sdgacademy.org/goal/affordable-and-clean-energy/

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Member

Winner Urban Reproductive Health Champion 2018 (The Challenge Initiative), social innovator, reproductive health trainer, peer mentor and youth advocate.

Daisy Muzira

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Currently mentor with Trailblazers Mentoring Foundation and Co-founder/Director of Ignite Minds an initiative that works to reduce the vulnerability of Adolescents and Women.

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Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Uganda and the subsequent lock downs that have been imposed, the country has seen a high rise in under age and teenage pregnancies.

Background

In Uganda, The teenage pregnancy rate is approximately at 25% being the highest in East Africa.

Certainly there are several reasons that have escalated teenage pregnancies across the nation and Covid19 has exacerbated the teenage pregnancy situation and the undesirable maternal health outcomes as stated in the Demographic Health Indicator Survey 2 data for the first half of 2021 shows that 52% of the maternal deliveries were recorded among the young people less than 25 years of age. National Annual Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) report indicates that 4 out of 10 maternal deaths reported last financial year were among the young people less than 25 years”

Video to watch https://youtu.be/XGCVW0FL-AM

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Daisy Muzira

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ENDING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES Causes of teenage pregnancy Lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights There is limited exposure to sexuality education and SRH information making young girls become vulnerable since they lack knowledge about reproductive health services, cope up with their body changes without any support or guidance from people who have the experience and right information Child, early and forced marriage, which can be both a cause and a consequence Some parents see their children as a source of wealth since they know when they marry her off for exchange of wealth in form of dowry (Bride Price) denying them their right to education Inadequate access to services tailored to young people. Sexual violence, etc.

Effects of Teenage Pregnancy Unsafe abortions Some girls get scared of the new experience of motherhood, they are likely to carry out abortions and most of them are usually done using herbal medicines, unprescribed drugs, rudimentary means and many others which may pose a death threat.

Rise of Maternity Deaths Early child bearing has led to the rise of maternal deaths since most of them are not fully grown and are at risk of getting complications during birth and unfortunately it may lead to death.

School Dropouts When a girl child gets pregnant or gives birth, their education normally ends there especially for the urban and rural poor. Due to reasons like; Stigmatisation from fellow students and teachers, also some parents or guardians due to disappointment, turn their focus and synergizes on the other gender or loss interest in them.

Recommendations on what should be done • Operationalize the launched national sexuality education framework • Government should finalize the school health policy • Scale up vaccination programs to allow children go back to school • Enable access Family Planning/ contraception • Ensure teenage mothers are given second chance in school • Reach out to girls with information of SRHR • Referral to health centres for contraception • Train health workers on handling adolescents health issues Reference https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1305629/uganda-teenage-pregnancy-rates-worrying https://observer.ug/news/headlines/71343-1-000-teens-impregnated-by-road-workers-in-soroti?s=03

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Member

He was awarded the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Excellence Award for Development -Africa, awarded the Global Teen Leader Award, serves as Their world Ambassador, was a United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Fellow, nominated for the Global Student Prize, the African Genius Prize, and a Student Energy Fellow.

Jeremiah Thoronka

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Jeremiah is on a mission to rewrite the African energy access narrative by providing access to clean, affordable energy and educating consumers on energy efficiency and the impact of their consumption behavior and patterns on the environment.

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The SDG7 agenda for sustainable energy development makes it a priority for countries and their partners to reduce inequality while ensuring that people regardless of social status have access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy. However, many households in Africa continue living in energy poverty as the cost of power has hardly been reduced, the grids are unreliable and in most cases there is no energy to meet the growing demand.

Background

Amidst the growing investment and breaking of barriers in making energy accessible in households across Africa, many more vulnerable communities are at the risk of or have already been left out. In most cases, this has resulted in a steady inequality growth even though access to energy is improving at the same time.

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Jeremiah Thoronka

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ENDING ENERGY POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN AFRICA - HOW CAN WE DO BETTER?

Here is how we can do better: Utilising Local Community Sustainable Energy Solutions: Accelerating the pace of progress across all regions and indicators will require African states to commit to the utilisation of locally developed sustainable energy solutions, long term planning, and adequate policy and scale up incentives or programs to spur faster uptake of local community sustainable energy solutions that will position them in ending energy poverty and the growing inequality.

Decentralising our grids: Most centralised grid in Africa has been a total disaster, many households are connected to the grid, however, many homes and communities in the most remote of places cannot access the grid and remain without electricity. Many may argue homes connected to the central grid are in most cases not better off households without electricity due to the unreliability of the grid, but energy access statistics will agree since they are connected, they are better off. However, if countries can reconsider what energy access means to them and in using a decentralised grid system, they’ll be able to have energy equity.

The notion that half a loaf is better than nothing or that providing every household with a little power is success solidifies and celebrates the growing energy inequality in Africa.

The ultimate goal of SDG7 is making energy accessible and affordable so everyone on the planet can have a fair shot at fulfilling their potential. This will never be achieved if we continue ignoring the growing energy inequality among communities. Utilising local community sustainable energy solutions will empower countries in Africa to deliver cheap and dependable solutions to their pressing energy, and economic challenges

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Is passionate about Policy Advocacy, Good Governance, Democracy, Quality Education for all and Youth Development.

Lilian Elochukwu Efobi

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She is an Accountaprenuer of AccountabilityLab, Freedom of Information Ambassador for Lagos State, CELP Semi-Finalist Ubuntu Leaders Academy, African Changemaker Fellow, Global Goodwill Ambassador, African Union Innovator, YALI RLC et al and has impacted her Community through several outreaches such as Back2School, Nelson Mandela Outreach etcetera.

Adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna on 25 June 1993. The Vienna Declaration seems to have been swept under the carpet based on the reality and despite the United Nations Charter on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmation and commitment several times to act on these rights, what do we get today in the world?

The UN Charter has made so many promises such as the promotion of conditions favourable to justice, the prevention of the scourge of war for future generations, promotion of economic advancement and social dignity for all etcetera in Africa alone, the 2013 pledge by African leaders to “silence the guns” by 2020, has remained unattainable with the increase in the sound of guns, claiming thousands of lives in the continent especially the youths, leaving many widows and orphan children in its trail.

No doubt that all human rights derive from the dignity of the human person and therefore, should have access to the utilization and benefits of these rights but in Nigeria, the 10-year conflict in North-Eastern

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region, crisis in Tigray Ethiopia and so many other African nation, we get to see the abuse and exploitation of human rights by the defenders of lives and properties, unlawful or arbitrary killings, torture, and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, harsh and life-threatening conditions for the inhabitants. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic on the other hand did not help matters because the youths in Africa and globally witnessed inequality in access to healthcare, especially victims of the pandemic. Sexual and Gender-based violence climaxed and discrimination was experienced in several forms. The End-SARs protesters in October 2020 in Nigeria, witnessed the highest abuse on their rights to protest and in the process, so many lives of young Nigerian youths were lost. Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan have it no better as youths in these nations experienced one conflict or the other which clamped down on their Fundamental Human Rights.

Background

Martin Luther King once said, A right delayed is a right denied and that has every atom of truth in it because daily, the right of an African youth, child and adult is abused, yet there is a declaration to safeguard these rights still what has been done about it?

Now, recognizing the activities of the United Nations in the promotion of Human Rights, the Vienna Declaration which was adopted by the three regional meetings at Tunis, San José and Bangkok witnessed the contributions of various governments, INGOs, NGOs in 1993 and with over 20 Sections referring to the Fundamental Human Rights of individuals, enhancement, protection, and promotion globally.

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Lilian Elochukwu Efobi

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ACT NOW: VIENNA DECLARATION 1993 We cannot help but agree that little is being done in its implementation. A great draft which protects rights such as: • Right of self-determination promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered as a priority objective. Universal, indivisible, and interdependent and interrelated of all Human Rights.

• Peaceful and friendly relations among nations to foster peace and security of Nations. Democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

• Support for developing countries in their transition to democracy and economic development.

• A call to dismantle Apartheid with the joint effort of relevant stakeholders.

• Necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism.

• The full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social, and cultural life, at the national, regional, and international levels, and the eradication of all forms of discrimination on grounds of sex are priority objectives of the international community.

• Curbing of Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation. Minority Protection in states.

• Protection of the rights of persons with Disabilities or Special Attention needs persons. Right to seek Asylum, migrant workers right protection etcetera.

Furthermore more, the world conference of 1993 supported the Vienna declaration, likewise the Geneva Convention of 1949 and non-implementation of the declaration is a denial of not just African Youths but people globally their rights. It is time for the relevant stakeholders from Government of states, leaders of multilateral organizations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and every individual globally to speak out for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration of 1993. We have seen and heard cases where the rights of children have and is being exploited and abused by people who should be their guardian as I speak. Young People are usually the greatest victims in conflicts from rape to recruitment as sex slaves, torture, labourers, and child soldiers. With the rate of human rights abuse globally and in Africa, it should be right to conclude that NO ACTION IS BEING TAKEN ON THE VIENNA DECLARATION. In addition, everyone is entitled to the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more without discrimination. Therefore, I call on the United Nations Human Rights Council and other relevant stakeholders to ACT NOW. There should be an increased awareness of Human Rights Education, with special reference to the Vienna Declaration and UN Charter on Human Rights by contextualizing it in the language of the people. This will help foster mutual understanding, tolerance, and peace. Without quality education, we will not be here today and therefore, states should provide education for all as a compulsory human right for every human being tailored towards the respect of the rights of the other for where my rights end, yours begin. Peace Education, Communal Tolerance and Democracy Education should also be taught in schools globally. There should also be a collaboration between the UN and other INGOs, NGOs and states to support the implementation of the recommendations by the World Conference over the Vienna Declaration of 1993. States yet to adopt the draft are encouraged to adopt and begin implementation. As individuals, we must speak up for what we care about and Human right are one of those things we care about for without your right to life, you will not be in existence. Moreso, when we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people - they will build a peaceful, sustainable, and just world.

In all, Former UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson once said: “There can be no peace without development, no development without peace, and no lasting peace or sustainable development without respect for human rights and the rule of law.” If the rights of the rights of the African Youth is diminished, then the rights of youths globally are threatened. In Africa, the African Union, ECOWAS, UN, and other stakeholders must pay special attention to the continent due to the high rate of human rights abuses in the continent which comes in various forms.

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Bibliography https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/vienna.aspx https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/11-top-quotes-on-human-rights/

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Member

Currently in my senior year at Kyambogo University, aspiring to graduate with an Undergraduate Degree of Chemical and Process Engineering.

Mugisa Aloysius Mary

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This puts me on the front line of solving outstanding environmental problems like Pollution, Waste Management, Degradation, Expensive energies. Greenhouse Effect, Global Warning to mention a few.

Governments must revere media, press and internet freedom and ensure that media outlets are permitted to function autonomously, and that media practitioners are able to carry out their job without intimidation, harassment and fear of reprisals. While this ought to the atmosphere, in most African countries this equilibrium shifted to either extremes.

A number of case studies have been compiled by numerous individuals, organisations and indepen dent bodies outlining scenes where journalists and citizens were impounded for airing out facts of information and their justice has then been silenced.

Governments must warrant that security forces act in accordance with international human rights standards on the use of force and firearms and that cases of excessive use of force are promptly, thoroughly, independently and transparently investigated and suspected perpetrators brought to justice.

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They must respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, release all those arbitrarily detained, and carry out prompt, effective and transparent investigations into reports of excessive use of force against protesters, bring to justice suspected perpetrators and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims.

They must end harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and immediately and unconditionally release those who are detained or imprisoned.

Background

Free, independent and pluralistic media based on freedom of information and expression is a core element of any functioning democracy.

Freedom of the media is in fact essential for the protection of all other human rights. Instances of torture, discrimination, corruption or misuse of power many times have come to light because of the work of investigative journalists. Making the facts known to the public is often the first, essential step to start redressing human rights violations and hold governments accountable. Commissioner of Human Rights, Council of Europe.

Internet shutdowns have become a motif in Africa. African leaders restrict internet access for the flimsiest motives. It could be to foil exam malpractice, disperse protests, or mitigate against misinformation. Uganda where I come from is a country which regionally and internationally has gained popularity in infracting press freedom. In my country today the police apologises for having broken journalist’s legs and tomorrow others have their ribs folded with bold wands, and yes “more apologies are expected in a forced press conference”.

If we want execution of what the Commissioner of Human Rights did describe then Africa definitely is dead asleep to this plea.

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Mugisa Aloysius Mary

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RIGHTS TO INFORMATION A BASIC NEED TO EVERY AFRICAN In Mozambique, unidentified assailants firebombed the offices of independent newspaper, Canal de Moçambique. Simultaneously the authorities issued falsified charges against two of the paper’s senior staff members.

In Tanzania, newspapers and broadcasting stations critical of the government were penalized, suspended or banned. Regulations on radio and television broadcasting were also amended to limit international media coverage of the elections. Also it published in July 2021 a new regulation that drastically restricts freedom of information. Prohibitions now include publishing “information with regards to the outbreak of a deadly or contagious diseases in the country or elsewhere without the endorsement of the respective authorities.” Several news outlets, including the country’s leading Swahili-language newspaper Mwananchi, were closed down after publishing stories about Covid-19. Others were required to broadcast apologies after carrying news reports on the subject which infuriated the authorities. Since 2016 Tanzania has fallen 53 places in the World Press Freedom Index (to 124 of 180 countries).

In Togo, a new Press and Communication Code passed in January 2021 provided for journalists to be punished with hefty fines for insulting government officials. In March 2021, two newspapers were suspended for running a story about the French ambassador. A third newspaper was suspended for criticizing the suspensions In a positive development, Somalia’s Attorney General established the office of a Special Prosecutor to deal with crimes against journalists.

In Equatorial Guinea, the government suspended “Buenos días Guinea” (Good morning Guinea), a popular Spanish-language programme broadcast by the country’s only commercial station Asonga TV which is owned by the president’s brother. Also the programme’s seven journalists were laid off after it aired a report on violence carried out by soldiers enforcing the lockdown.

Since 14 March in sub-Saharan Africa, Reporters without Boarders (RSF) an NGO had registered: i. 109 press freedom violations linked to the public health crisis; ii. 40 arbitrary arrests of journalists; iii. 26 attacks, of which 24 were committed by security forces; iv. 14 sanctions or convictions of journalists or media organizations; v. 19 restrictive measures; vi. 10 threats and intimidation; vii. 29 countries involved; viii. Nigeria (15 cases), Zimbabwe (14) and Uganda (12) together account for 38 per cent of the registered violations On 2 November 2020, International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, there are concerns that cases of physical attack and harassment of media representatives in several African countries have increased since Covid-19 lockdown measures came into force.

A cognizance of international standards of professional journalism provides a basis from which journalists may feel justified, beyond their own personal conviction, to resist manipulation, because they enjoy a network of support and feel part of a larger community.

Today is the time to realise the gravity of a right that’s almost being left hampered, a right that almost has become everyone’s new basic need, a right that was, is and will forever (if protected) be a receptacle of the other valuable human rights. Press and Media freedom rights must be upheld however the players ought to be sheltered from any threatening force at all costs.

A number of International, Regional and local bodies exist whose obligation is to create a safe working environment for journalists namely; 1. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 2. African Commission Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa 3. African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms 4. East African Community Treaty 5. Revised ECOWAS Treaty 6. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 7. Universal Declaration of Human Rights Much as these many platforms exist, some have headquarters in the countries that flout rights of Press, Sad! A kind reminder to the relevance of information in the generational era we trade in. RTI (Right To Information) empowers the citizens, promotes transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed.

The Human Right Council has had talks about this I believe but have these conversations yielded positive results? If yes, well and good but as far as I am concerned some African countries have pretended deaf to such a crucial matter.

As I conclude, Journalists' organizations, such as the International Federation of Journalists, should stringently recommend that governments give a clear public statement at the start of the election campaigns (which have proved seasons of gnashing teeth), informing the law enforcement agencies that the media are an essential part of the democratic process - and that anyone preventing them from going about their business will be dealt with using the full force of the law. Of course, the danger to journalists does not come only from over-enthusiastic party activists - often they are at risk from law enforcement officials trained in the ways of dictatorship. Hence the importance of clear public instructions - with the essential follow-up that any attacks are fully investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

Physical protection of journalists may be more difficult, since an intrusive police presence may interfere with the media's freedom to gather information. However, law enforcement officials should also be under instructions about the responsibility to protect journalists against attack, physically if necessary.

REFERENCES 1. https://cutt.ly/3EYYDiU 2. https://cutt.ly/MEYYZWN 3. https://cutt.ly/iEYYBq7

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As his way of giving back to the community, Rogers has developed a youth-friendly center at Makongeni hospital, where free services and information on HIV, contraception, adherence counseling, sexuality, and life skills.

Rogers Omollo

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Rogers also serves in other leadership position including ONE Champion East Africa and Homa-Bay County global peace ambassador.

Meaningful youth engagement means that young people, like you, work in all stages of decision-making in organizations and can participate on equal terms with adults at a number of levels, or alternatively work independently from adults and make decisions

Background

As Africa’s young population grows to a staggering 75%, Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) is garnering significant interest across the African countries from youth advocates and policymakers alike. MYE exists when inclusivity and representation of the youth meet skilled, supportive, and transparent decision-makers.

Young People under the age of 35 make up 70% of the African population. However, too often their priorities are not reflected in government priorities, policies, and budgeting processes and outcomes. At a time when the importance of their role and potential for improving policies to meet their need is at its greatest, African youth have a huge opportunity to shift the country`s policy landscape.

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Rogers Omollo

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MEANINGFUL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE • We believe that youths have a huge opportunity to shift in-country policy landscapes to address challenges facing them such as unemployment, education, and governance.

• We believe that good governance and meaningful youth participation are fundamentally connected, especially if we get young people to start holding leaders accountable, take leadership positions, and really amplify the voices of both youth and women in public debates.

To drive this forward, we are recommending the following: 1. We calling for programs that give youth voices real visibility, and help ensure they’re listened to, not just heard. These programs should focus on improving youth capacity on how to engage in political processes, take leadership positions and help connect African and European youth through exchange programs and joint projects and initiatives.

2. We youth need to be engaged in governance by accelerating digitalization of public administration, increasing participation through e-services allowing young people to access government budgets and contracting processes, which will allow youth hold leaders accountable.

3. Prioritizing Partnerships among youths across the entire EU and AU by profiling youths’ initiatives in higher platforms.

4. There is need to commit to a stronger focus on gender equality horizontally across all aspects of the Africa-Europe partnership, especially to address gender-based violence, access to housing and financial services, sexual and reproductive health rights, and economic empowerment.

Finally, we call upon AU to develop an initiative that aims to mentor, support, and increase the capacity of young people and youth advocates to influence youth policy and resource priorities in the areas of gender-based violence, access to housing and financial services, sexual and reproductive health rights, and economic empowerment by coming up with • Youth leadership funds – Financing youth initiatives • Formation of Africa youth advisory council championing youth policies • Help shape narratives around youth in Africa by highlighting strength, opportunities, and resources as opposed to negative narratives

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Member

Environmental and Climate Change Analyst, Environmental Activist.

I am very passionate about Environmental Protection and have carried out series of voluntary works on Environmental Sustainability.

Okoh Wisdom Nneoma

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I have also mastered in Waste and Clean Technology and currently a member of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines Education as a process of teaching, training, and learning, especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Institute for Statistics, Africa has the highest rate of education exclusion. Across the region, 9million girls between the ages of about 6 and 11 will never go to school at all compared to 6million boys (UIS data, 2020).

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This requires a serious concern as there is every tendency for the statistics to go up in few years to come.

Background

First, what is Education?

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Okoh Wisdom Nneoma

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EMPOWERING GIRL CHILD EDUCATION IN AFRICA

In Africa, most girls are subjected and confined within the practices of informal education (domestic activities) rather than formal education. The number of primary school aged children not attending school in Africa accounted for more than half the global total number (UNESCO, 2012).

This is a very sad situation and this is the major reason why the rate of teenage pregnancy is rapidly increasing because most of these girls are not fully informed. They are not exposed to sex education, its potential risks and hazards. This serves as a serious call to action to help enlighten the African girl child and bridge the gender inequality gap.

The girl child should have the same education as the male child. There is a saying that goes “Train a woman, Train a Nation”. When a woman is educated and well exposed, she will be able to build stable homes, manage marital issues, she will be exposed to child training and she can be able to pass down that information to her children and generations to come, she will be able to get good jobs and thereby breaking poverty cycles and ignorance among women folks in Africa.

An educated woman will help reduce the African population because research has shown that educated girls are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers and girls with no education are more likely to get married as children more than educated girls. There are so many barriers to girl child education which includes child marriage, teenage pregnancy, poverty, and disabilities. I am very hopeful that the United Nations will focus on these factors to make sure these barriers are reduced or forestalled by advocating for girl child education in Africa for every African girl child no matter the age, where she lives, no matter the financial constraints have a right to learn and to be educated. A reader today is a leader tomorrow and for more female leaders to emerge from Africa, girl child education should also be prioritized. Thank you.

References United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2012) UNESCO Institutional Statistics, 2020.

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Member

He has experience ranging from Academia, Non-profits, Start-ups, Agriculture and the general Service and Manufacturing industries.

Opey’s current work involves establishing leadership and mentorship schemes for young people on the Akuapem Ridge of Ghana, an underserved area when it comes to such services.

Opey Abednego Brandy

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Passionate about young people and works to make the young people he works with employable, entrepreneurial and to have their voices heard in their communities.

Goals (SDGs) by 2030 [3]. This means that, if govern-

population of Africa. Globally, out of the world’s 20

ments around the world are committed to fighting

youngest populations, 19 of these countries can be

inequalities and solve the world’s teething issues like

found in Africa [1]. It is projected that by the year

hunger, malnutrition, poverty and inadequate health-

2050, the population of young people in Africa, thus,

care, young people can simply not be overlooked like

those between the ages of 0 and 24 years, will in-

a feather in a storm. This notwithstanding, there still

crease by close to 50 percent[2]. This rise in the pop-

exist till date issues that prevent young people from

ulation of young people provides both opportunities

achieving their full potential and contributing mean-

and liabilities depending on how governments han-

ingfully to the development of their communities and

dle their young people.

in their ability to be heard, seen and considered as a

It has been established that, young people can be

pillar in the building of nations.

Background

Young people make up a significant portion of the

roped into the development process to ensure sustainable development and inclusive growth. In addition to this, young people have been cited as being key to the achievement of the Sustainable Development

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Opey Abednego Brandy

ENDING INEQUALITIES AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA The Yawning Gap. Across the world, young people are three times more likely to be unemployed [4]. With this stark reality with us in our world, many young people find themselves out of work and hence missing out on a great deal of opportunities to earn a decent income to fend for themselves and for their dependents.

I believe the factors making young people three (3) times more likely to be unemployed include inadequate education and reverse ageism. Reverse ageism occurs when young people are thought to be too young or inexperienced to be of help, knowledgeable, or able to manage a situation or team. Often, these stereotypes are completely false. Also, with reverse ageism, younger generations that are employed by companies are often hired and onboarded as an inexpensive workforce, but these companies dismiss their innovative ideas because they are “too young to know what’s best” for the company [5]. Currently, there are barely any laws to counteract reverse ageism [5]. With this dearth of legislation and protection, young people miss out on a great deal of opportunities as employers turn them down for being too young to contribute meaningfully to their establishments. Additionally, this leaves the youth at the mercy of employers who treat them according to their whims and caprices without recourse to the professional needs of the young people they are working with.

Consequently, the world has a large proportion of its young people living in poverty due to an inability to gain access to decent job opportunities. Globally, more than 100 million young people are living in poverty with Africa’s 80 million youth living in extreme poverty: representing more than three-quarters of the global total [6].

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the working poverty is nearly 70 percent with the region continuing to report the highest youth working poverty rates globally [7]. This means that young people growing up in Sub-Saharan Africa are more likely to fall into the trap of poverty than their colleagues elsewhere in the world. This reality is compounded by the fact that 53% of Sub Saharan Africa’s population live in a rural area with this figure going as high as 83% in countries such as Rwanda and Burundi [8]. Many of these rural settlements lack access to quality education, energy, training and exposure to new technologies with which young people can earn a decent living

I0

The Missing Piece Governments the world over has been working to make the lives of their citizens better. However, the missing piece in this daunting puzzle is considerable action towards ending inequalities that affect young people. Though initiatives are being developed to help young people, these schemes are too few, under resourced, given little attention and not attached with much political will. This reflects in the current outcomes we are seeing with young people being thrice more likely to be unemployed.

In terms of governance, there happens to be a disparity between the age of leaders and the population they are serving especially in Africa.

Though Africa has a youthful population, the median age of leaders in Africa is 62 with the age gap between Africa’s population and its leaders being 42 years [8]. With such a wide gap between the governing and the governed, it comes as no surprise that issues that affect young people are not given considerable attention.

Taking Action.

In consideration of the above, it is very important that all stakeholders come on board to tackle inequalities, especially ones that affect the ability of young people to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities and countries as a whole.

There has to be decent employment avenues created for young people to enter the workforce. These should be in the form of channeling state resources into creating more jobs and encouraging employers and the society as a whole to do away with reverse ageism. Young people should be paid fairly and appreciated for the contribution they make to the companies they work for. Governments should enact legislations that protect young people in the workplace. In the absence of these, young people are more likely to be abused, overworked, underpaid and frustrated in their career path. For every young person given access to a decent work opportunity, there is a high chance of ending the cycle of poverty.

Creating decent employment avenues for young people benefits societies as it helps with social integration, poverty alleviation, contributes to the building of citizenship and solidarity, and helps with the entry of young skilled people into more productive sectors of an economy thereby making the economy more sustainable and competitive in the global sphere. [9] To make young people ready for these decent employment opportunities, education should be made accessible, affordable, and tailored towards current needs of the society. In many cases, there exists a lot of work to be done in achieving satisfactory access to quality education especially in Sub Saharan Africa. In this region, the current gross tertiary education enrollment ratio is 9.4%, well below the global average of 38% [10]. There is therefore an urgent need to increase enrollment in tertiary education and indeed in all levels of education. As mentioned earlier, the educational system has to be tailored to the current needs of the society. It should also be practical, hands on, experiential and relevant. Governments should do away with burdening students with mundane programmes that have little visible outcomes on the success of young people later in life. This means that the curriculum being used should be regularly updated and not made to be stuck in

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the past. Rather, it should be designed to be flexible, actionable and relevant to the time of studying.

Investment should be made in teaching skills that pertain to Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics. Also, technical and vocational skills should be promoted as skills to be harnessed in nation building. Encouraging technical and vocational skills create avenues for young people to be self employed and take full advantage of the industrial revolution gradually springing up in the global south. Measures should be put in place and funded effectively to also enable young people upskill as they progress in their careers and also in response to the changing needs of the job market.

Furthermore, young people need to be given access to opportunities to lead and also paid fair wages once they start working. Governments should deliberately create more avenues for young people to be entrepreneurial and have their businesses supported by state policies. Policies such as tax holidays should not be made the reserve of few, mainly giant multinational companies, but also has to be extended to small and medium scale enterprises established by young people. This is going to support these businesses to grow and to become competitive. Once these businesses grow, they become avenues of employing even more people thereby reducing the over all unemployment rate.

In conclusion, the best time to have acted on teething issues affecting young people was yesterday. The next chance we have to do this is now. Governments have to put in efforts to address issues that affect young people by including them in the governance process, invest in education and upskilling, provide access to decent employment and provide funding and political support to schemes rolled out to support young people.

References 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

These are the world’s youngest populations | World Economic Forum (weforum.org) accessed on 4th October, 2021 Figures of the week: Africa’s growing youth population and human capital investments (brookings.edu) accessed on 4th October, 2021 Why young people are key to achieving the SDGs | World Economic Forum (weforum.org) accessed on 1st October, 2021 Youth unemployment: The Facts | Plan International (plan-international.org) accessed on 5th October, 2021 Reverse Ageism In The Workplace | Ageism.org accessed on 5th October, 2021 More than 100 million young adults are still living in extreme poverty (brookings.edu)accessed on 5th October, 2021 World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2016 (ilo.org) accessed on 5th October, 2021 Raising the voice of young people in governance (brookings.edu) accessed on 5th October, 2021 Emerging issue_Youth employment.doc (un.org) accessed on 5th October, 2021 COVID-19-Impact-on-Tertiary-Education-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa.pdf (worldbank.org) accessed on 5th October, 2021

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Member

An Egyptian Icon of removing “Mongolian Idiots” officially from all Egyptian Curriculum and all the textbook in Egypt Universities.

She has been assigned as a Goodwill ambassador from Global Goodwill ambassadors since 2019.

Sama Ramy Sobhi

She has an initiative to change the term of Disabled people to be People of Determination to motivate and encourage all people to be efficient and with same advantages in all International Protocols.

She is a famous singer in Awladna association for Arts.

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Sama Ramy Wants to End the Stigmatization Despite the stigmatization, one teen is not afraid to talk about the trials and tribulations she and many others with the syndrome in Egypt face everyday. She is an inspiring singer, ballerina and inspires over 3000 people on her Facebook fan page.

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The 16-year-old was denied a chance to study in a tourism secondary school because of her disability. As a result, she was forced to complete her education in a regular secondary school. Sama noticed that disinformation on the syndrome was being spread, when she read that, in the high school biology text book, down syndrome was described as ‘Mongolian stupidity’, the racist and deaf tone term that the medical community had ceased to use since the 1950s.

Background

About 15 million people are considered to be differently abled in Egypt according to the latest statistics. How many of them live with Down syndrome, is unknown, and one of the reasons is that many parents hide their child with the syndrome because of the big stigma around it.

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Sama Ramy Sobhi

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DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS IN AFRICA

Her disappointment led to her starting a platform where she wrote a post directed to the Egyptian minister of education and culture, Dr. Tarek Showky, to change the offensive describing of down syndrome, stating that she and her peers are not ‘stupid’, they’re growing and learning. Ramy’s inspiring massage has been picked up by various news outlets as well as influential Egyptian Facebook pages like ‘women of Egypt’ and ‘Copts united’. After her first interview about her initiative, the Aforementioned minister of education responded by promising her to change the describing and term in future editions of the book.

But Sama’s fight for equality of treatment didn’t stop there. The actions she took are being described in a post on her Facebook page: She sent a new message to the officials of the Ministries of Education and Culture, asking them to launch awareness campaigns to change societal perception of people with Down Syndrome and to reduce the harassment they face. Despite the deletion of the “Mongolian Idiocy” from the educational curriculum, it has been associated in the minds of many that people with Down syndrome suffer from mental illness, and should be avoided. This kind of thinking triggers harassment against them in the streets.

Sama is requesting the minster or culture and education to launch an awareness campaigns to change this wring perception. Participating in works of art, such as acting, promotional campaigns, singing, playing music, etc … is Sama’s second demand to the officials. “We have lots of different talents and we have the right to participate in all art and prove to everyone that we are as normal as everyone else in the society, especially after the government has announced that 2018 as the Year of Egyptians with Special Needs,” she said.

In an interview with Mvslim.com, Ramy states that a few days ago, she started another challenge and campaign in which she directly addresses president al-Sisi to change the the term ‘disabled’ to ‘special abilities’ in the law, as it is a more humane description, following what the Emirates did last year.

The road of Egyptian society’s to accept the differently abled and what they bring to the world is just beginning. But the young Sama’s fight for equality and dignity is inspiring the world!

I am an icon to change the Egyptian curricula, because I removed the term Mongolian bully from the books of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education after campaigns and an interview with the Ministers of Education and Higher Education...and thank God the term has been changed from Mongolian bully to the scientific description of Down syndrome... We are neither idiots nor idiots. We can learn and understand and know how to deal with people in a good way... That is why I want to change the name of the Mongolian bull in the green continent of Africa...... We are people of determination and special abilities, not people with disabilities.... Long live Egypt long live Africa!

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Member

Pomenya Dzokoto, Shalom is a young African lady, a Humanitarian, an Early Childhood Professional, Youth Mentor and Motivator.

Shalom Pomenya Dzokoto

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She is passionate about the wellbeing of children and enriching young minds through play and mindful experiences in order to bring them from where they are to where they ought to be. To her, children are special and need special attention in their care and nurturing in order to become self-reliant and responsible citizens of society. She is a role model and provides guidance, advice, and support to orphans, youth and young children and encourage them to pursue their goals and dreams in life.

Background Shalom, Pomenya Dzokoto is a member of Ariel Foundation International and a youth ambassador for African Young Leaders focusing on youth empowerment, education and wellbeing of the young child.

Shalom, Pomenya Dzokoto is a student of International Relations and hopes to use the skills acquired to help find solutions to the fundamental problems facing our societies and advance relations through cultural exchanges, diplomacy and policy development.

sionate about the issues regarding youth and young children’s learning and well-being and who have immense desire to make the world a better place for children and youth to grow, learn and develop to their full potential and also make reasonable contributions to life.

Her long term goal is to be a child advocate to enable children express their wishes and feelings on issues concerning them, to encourage and empower children and uphold their human rights.

Shalom, Pomenya Dzokoto wants to engage more with organizations and influential people who are also pas-

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Shalom Pomenya Dzokoto

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STOP RACISM NOW!

Nelson Mandela who saw great scourge of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance in all its forms in his time, said “I hate racial discrimination most intensely and all its manifestations. I have fought all my life; I fight now and will do so until the end of my days. Even though I now happen to be tried by one, whose opinion I hold in high esteem, I detest most.”

As a generational thinker and a visionary, he saw what the future of a world filled with racism, discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of intolerance would have been like if measures were not put in place to address them and eventually eradicated. He took the first step to end the apartheid that reigned in South Africa, in solidarity with other African nations and organizations.

What has become of the world today? What has become of Africa today? What has become of the great spirit of togetherness, brotherly love, and or what was once known as “Ubuntu” or “Ujamaa” in Africa? Every day, numerous people live in fear for their lives as a result of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of tolerance.

Racism is a catalyst for inciting conflicts in many countries around the world, the instigating of exclusivist nationalism, and causing states to disintegrate and massacre each other. Racial discrimination and other forms of intolerance is the fuel to many conflicts globally. Governments as well as political movements and violent groups continue to use racial prejudice as a tactic for mobilizing or gaining political support and a framework for the exclusion, exploitation, oppression, and even extermination of others.

Many people may be denied full nationality privileges in their own countries, or their citizenship may be revoked by political decree by virtue of their ethnicity or descent. Racism can combine with gender discrimination to limit or eliminate women’s ability to exercise their human rights. Even children are not spared but subjected to such intolerable acts.

The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted to eradicate racism, discrimination, and intolerance in all its forms. However, 20 years on, the sad truth remains that, racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance in all its forms still has a foot hold in world affairs today. In all honesty, it is a shame that in spite of human rights being one of the pillars of the United Nations, the acts of racism permeates our institutions.

In the glaring eyes of the world, human rights are being trampled upon. Human rights are under assault on a daily basis! People of African descent, Asian descent, indigenous people, migrants, refugees, minority communities, displaced persons, and other persons continue to be subjected to stigmatization, hatred, scapegoating, discrimination, violence, and other forms of intolerable acts. People continue to live with racism every day of their lives. It is like waking up to wash ones face or to drink a cup of tea.

The recent “Black Lives Matter” movement which was sparked by an outrage for the broad daylight murder of George Floyd, as well as the xenophobic attacks on foreigners, asylum seekers, refugees and people of other descent in South Africa, and happenings in other countries around the world is a wake-up call that states and governments have not done enough to tackle the prevailing racial discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia. States and governments have failed in upholding the human rights policies that they have set.

No country can say that they are free from such social vices. Racism still runs in our institutions, work places, and every other area of our lives. Inaction or silence in the face of all these intolerable acts only exacerbates racism, and has

adverse effect on the public health crisis that already exist and also mar the effort of making the world a better place for all.

Mahatma Gandhi once said “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” That being so implies that we are heading towards doom. Let’s STOP RACISM NOW! We should stand by nonviolence because it is the philosophy of a life that regulates not only one’s dealings in the struggle for racial justice, but also in dealings with people, and with one’s own self, as spoken

by Martin Luther King Jr. Enough of the structural racism! Enough of the systemic racial injustices! Enough of the racial discrimination! Enough of the neglect, abuse and maltreatments! Enough of the social prejudice and inequality!!! Let’s STOP RACISM NOW! It is time for people from all walks of life to collaborate and work together in the fight against racism.

The chosen theme for the recent 48th Human Rights Council Summit “Reparations, racial Justice and equality for people of African descent” is a wonderful. There could not have been any better time for this than now, since the pandemic further exposed the existence of injustices and discrimination and inequality within our institutions. Governments pledged to further accelerate the fight to eradicate racism. That is a very laudable, but it is not enough to talk about eliminating racism. We must believe that we can. Not only must we believe it because that too, is not enough. We must work at it. We need to walk the talk.

We can and need to work together to eradicate racism in its highest degree. It all starts from the heart. To this, words of Nelson Mandela comes to mind “No one is born a racist. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, then, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than it’s opposite.” This is indicative that only by learning and acting in love can we eradicate this plague of racism. Education, Education, Education is the key! Educate both the young and old, in all walks of life.

States and governments in Africa, human rights bodies, mechanisms and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, regional organizations such as the African Union, national human rights institutions, CSO’s, and non-governmental organizations must take concrete measures to improve upon the human rights situations of person under threat of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance in all its forms. National and international legal frameworks, policies and programs must be strategized to combat this menace. These can take the form of curricular reform. Constructive and safe curricular to promote cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of life from primary through secondary to tertiary levels of education.

Communities need to engage in meaningful dialogue with members and organize programs that will enlighten the populace about racism and how it continues to operate within the world around us and eschew it from our lives. Families need to instill in their children the teachings of love and acceptance of diversity within the world around us and engage in practices that will promote inclusion and break the barriers of racism and oppression by supporting organizations that fight policies that encourage racial discrimination within our institutions and communities. All stake holders involved should work in collaboration with each other to ensure that we get rid of this cankerworm eating away the peace within our institutions, communities and every sector of public and private life in Africa. Above all, we as a people irrespective of who, where, or what we are, must learn to live in love, let love lead and accept diversity, because diversity contributes to a better world. Let us have zero tolerance for racism and discrimination! Let’s STOP RACISM NOW!!!

References https://www.un.org/WCAR/durban.pdf https://www.ohchr.org/documents/publications/dimensionsracism.pdf https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/i-want-respect-and-equality-racial-discrimination-national https://www.oas.org/dil/afrodescendants_durban_declaration.pdf https://www.unhcr.org/5f7c860f4.pdf

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My name is Shantal Kisimba from Kenya. Professionally am an Environmentalist and also a passionate writer. I am the founder of Sunshine, a brand that radiates the dark days in people’s lives through Inspiration, Encouragement and Motivation.

Mental health advocacy is one of our key areas of focus, being that we live in times where we do see that mental health struggle cases are on the rise therefore we have it upon ourselves to create awareness on this topic.

Shantal Kisimba

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I am also a youth champion at Activate Action which is a youth led organization working with vulnerable young people including young people living with HIV and disabilities.

Lastly, I am a mental health champion at Pepea Champions which is a group of youths with the ages between 18-30 years who have taken leadership in matters mental health by speaking about their lived experience to challenge stigma. I believe in the possibility to create meaningful change in our societies.

The United Nations committee on economic, social and cultural rights adopted the right to health for every persons which should be made a priority. Over the last two decades, mental health has been recognized as a critical component of the right to health. The first director of the WHO stated, “Without mental health, there can be no true physical health.”

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Mental health being considered as a human right means that; all people are entitled to receive the best mental health care available and be treated with humanity and respect. There should be no discrimination on the grounds on mental illness.

Also, all people with mental illness have the same rights to medical and social care as other people.

Background

Mental health as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

Human rights on the other hand are rights inherent to all human beings regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity language, religion or any other status.

Mental health problems are considered a silent epidemic throughout Africa. Most African Countries are vulnerable to mental health problems due to psychosocial and social economic inequalities and stressors such as poverty, migration, war, conflict, gender based violence issues (GBV) and disasters. With the increased cases of mental illness within the continent of Africa, several aspects of the people’s lives are directly affected such as quality of life, development outcomes and the social aspects of their lives.

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Shantal Kisimba

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MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICA AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorder, ADHD, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder are some of the recorded illnesses affecting people in Africa. The question is; why is there barrier to treatment which should be a basic human right?

Several factors act as problems and barriers to proper mental health care in Africa. These include; • Lack of clear mental health policy • Poor health infrastructure and lack of funding • Insufficient number of trained mental health professionals • Poor legal protection • Lack of equity • Stigma, discrimination and human rights abuses and violation • Lack of Education and awareness about Mental health • Lack of affordable mental health care services • Lack of availability of quality mental health care services • Lack of early detection of these mental health disorders How can we improve our mental health care in Africa and ensure that we are all experiencing the right to proper mental health care?

• Development and construction of more mental health recovery centers with quality service.

• Education systems should consider including mental health curriculum in school • Investment in awareness campaigns to help people understand what mental health is.

This will help fight stigma and discrimination.

• Mental health services should be readily available for the public • Mental health services should be made affordable for the public • Mental health services should also be acceptable by various cultures and communities.

It is important as a continent we invest in mental health because the prevalence of mental health disorders are increasing. Implementation of the basic human rights of person’s with psychosocial disability is also key. Our tomorrow is dependent on the decisions we make today and let’s remember that there is no health without mental health.

References

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/41169331.pdf

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/MentalHealthIsAhumanright.aspx

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