| From: |
ametepey emmanuel [ profile ] |
| Subject: |
Press Statement: West Africa Regional Youth Workshop
|
| Sent: |
Mar 8th, 2012 - 00:23:59 |
|
| |
Press Statement: Contact: ametemma (at) yahoo.com
Thursday 1st March 2012
REGIONAL YOUTH WORKSHOP
“STRENGTHENING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN WEST AFRICA-February 29th -March
1st 2012.
‘WHAT IS FOR YOUTH, WITHOUT
YOUTH, IS NOT FOR YOUTH’
The development of
West Africa, based on regional integration will depend largely on the
participation of local actors including young people.
In line with its Vision, ICCO
ROWAheld a two-day
Regional Youth Workshop in BAMAKO, MALI
from 29 February-1 March 2012. The
workshop brought together 20 youth
representatives of youth organizations from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Mali,
Benin, Burkina Faso and Senegal that are working on youth issues in order to integrate
their needs in the West Africa Regional Multi-Annual Strategic plan and to have
a clear base for an intervention strategy for youth in the region.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Alimu Diallo, and
the Opening Ceremony was addressed by Mr. Piet Van Ommeren, Regional Manager of
ICCO, Mr. Hamadi Bathily, Technical Advisor, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mali
and Mr. Kofi Amfo Akonnor, Member, Regional Board, ICCO.
The common issues identified are Youth &Unemployment, Youth Entrepreneurship, Migration, Leadership
& Governance, Reproductive Health & HIV/AIDS, Violence, Conflicts &
Drugs, Youth in Conflict with the law, Development & Implementation of National
Youth Policies, Gender Disparities, Lack of Access to Information & ICT,Lack
of Education and Skills Training, Human Rights and Youth in Environmental
Changes.
During the two days of deliberation, which was characterized
by frank exchange of ideas, the participants further prioritized the issues
identified.
HIGH PRIORITY
Ø Youth
unemployment,
Ø Youth
in governance,
Ø Youth
in conflicts, violence & drugs,
Ø Youth
&Reproductive health &HIV/AIDS,
Ø Youth
in Education and Capacity training.
MEDIUM PRIORITY
§ Development
and implementation of National Youth Policies,
§ Lack of Access to Information & ICT,
§ Youth
in Environmental changes.
CROSS CUTTING ISSUES.
v Gender
disparities and human rights.
At the end of their
deliberations, the participants adopted the following recommendations to be
inculcated into the Regional Multi Annual
Strategic Plan of ICCO and to also serve as mechanisms to inspire youth leaders
across the region to actively participate in issues affecting their development,
growth and survival
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That a Youth representative be appointed to
the Regional Board of ICCO
2. That
Government formulates policies to increase the genuine participation of youth in
decision making.
3. Increase
resources allocated to youth programmes
4. Strengthen
partnership with government, sub regional organizations, which deal with youth
issues
5. Improve
the visibility of youth programs at country levels.
6. Youth
leaders should put into place a Platform for experience sharing
7. Strengthen
the capacity of youth organizations in West Africa
8. Support
youth organizations and advocacy for clearly defined policies in favor of the
youth
9. Increased
Budget appropriation for youth groups
10. Support
initiative promoting youth in priorities sectors
11. Prioritize
skill training and entrepreneurship in rural areas
|
|
Message
back to messages
