(30 November - 02 December 2017)

Transcription

1 Concept note Pan-African Youth Forum for a Culture of Peace and the fight against radicalization and work towards the creation of an early warning system in Central Africa (30 November - 02 December 2017) I- Background and justification The first Pan-African Forum "African Youth and the challenge of promoting a culture of peace" was held in Libreville (Gabon) from 11 to 13 December It was under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon, and was an the initiative of the Gabonese National Commission for UNESCO and the Omar Bongo Foundation Ondimba for peace, science, culture and the environment, with the support and participation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and of the African Union (AU). This forum is part of the implementation of the Plan of Action for a Culture of Peace in Africa 1, adopted at the end of the Pan-African Forum "Sources and Resources for a Culture of Peace" (Luanda / Angola, March 2013), allowed the official launch of the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace (PAYNCOP), which Gabon hosts from the Headquarters. The initiate of a "Pan-African Youth Forum for the Culture of Peace and the Fight against Radicalization and work towards the creation of an early warning system in Central Africa" is a follow-up to the December 2014 forum, which recommendations invited the Pan African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace to meet now every two years, in general assembly, in Libreville (Gabon). This activity is planned to be completed against the UNESCO Participation Programme, under the theme: "The ideological and religious 1 1

2 radicalization of young people: a challenge to a culture of peace ", chosen because of the importance this issue has for peace, especially on the African continent. The spread of Boko Haram's religious radicalism is reaching the Central Africa sub-region, via the Lake Chad and the far North of Cameroon. Due to porous borders, the radicalism of young people could, moreover, thrive on the humus of many unresolved political crises, socio-economic difficulties and frustration born of unemployment, human rights abuses, in short, poor governance. In addition, in a context of increased access to information technologies and the massive use of the Internet and social networks, Central Africa is obviously not sheltered from the radicalization of its young people. This forum, which contributes to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2249 calling for the active fight against terrorism and violent extremism, is also a follow-up to the sub-regional workshop on strengthening cooperation between the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and civil society on matters related to early warning and conflict prevention in Central Africa. It was organized from 31 July to 1 August 2017, in Libreville (Gabon), by the Office United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and ECAAC. Engaging young people in promoting a culture of peace and non-violence involving them in the prevention and management of conflicts and violence and the fight against radicalization by creating an early warning system; this is the goal of this project of Forum organized jointly by the Government of Gabon, UNOCA, UNESCO and ECCAS. This Forum also contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution , which considers that "youth should actively be engaged in shaping lasting peace and contributing to justice and reconciliation, and that a large youth population presents a unique demographic dividend that can contribute to lasting peace and economic prosperity if inclusive policies are in place ( )". The same resolution also notes that" important role youth can play further as positive role models in preventing and countering violent extremism, which can be conducive to terrorism, and fuels conflict, inhibits socioeconomic development and fosters regional and international insecurity ( ). This vision is, moreover, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 and Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063 of the African Union. 2 Resolution adopted at the 7573rd meeting of the Security Council, on 9 December

3 In the dynamics of strengthening the partnership between ECCAS and civil society Early Warning and Conflict Prevention, including in the framework of the Central Africa Early Warning Mechanism (MARAC), the forum will mainly be the opportunity for the appropriation towards its adoption, by young people, of a sub-regional project on "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa". The forum will be a decisive and founding step in the implementation of the sub-regional project on "Building the capacity of young people in the management of associative movements and creation of an early warning system for youth for peace and security in Central Africa", as initiated by ECCAS and the United Nations System. In this spirit, it will also constitute, for the representatives of the youth of CEEAC countries, an important opportunity to advocate for this project; advocacy to submit to 45 th Session of the Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee Security Officer for Central Africa (UNSAC), to meet in Kigali (Rwanda), from 04 to 08 December This forum is also a response to the final Communiqué of the 8 th Extraordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of ECCAS, requesting the Secretary-General of ECCAS to convene a sub-regional forum for youth to engage young people in the implementation of implementation of their decisions, including on peace and security, echoing the proclamation of 2017, Year of African Youth, by the African Union (AU). ECCAS's commitment to the youth of the sub-region is particularly revealed, from 2013, with the process supported by UNESCO of the creation of the Council Regional Youth Council of the ECCAS (CRJ), which has been translated in practice by the organization of three regional workshops. The first phase consisted of supporting ECCAS member States in the implementation of National Youth Councils (NJCs) in countries where they did not exist and to make advocacy of revitalization in the countries where they were suspended. In this process, all the national youth leaders and the Member States' NJCs ECCAS have exchanged and agreed on the establishment of a regional network of National Youth Councils of ECCAS countries as a body for consultation and participation of young people in order to formulate proposals and bring back to the region needs of young people to better adapt their policies. 3

4 The regional workshop for the examination of the regulatory texts of the Regional Council of young people of the ECCAS that was held in Yaoundé (Cameroon), from 22 to 23 October 2013, has enabled the implementation of the Regional Council of Youth of the ECCAS (CRJ) and the setting of its office, as well as the examination the statutes and roadmap of the RTA for a period of two years. II- Implementation Strategy Apart from representatives of the Pan-African Youth Network for Culture (PAYNCOP), invited youth and stakeholder in this forum will also include representatives of National Youth Councils from eleven (11) ECCAS countries. Donors will also be invited to participate in this forum. The forum is scheduled to be held over three days. The first day will be devoted to exchanges of views on the challenges of peace, security and radicalization of young people and the role of young people in the prevention of conflict and violence, while allowing the presentation of the subregional project on Capacity building of young people in associative movement management and creation of an early warning system of the youth for peace and security in Central Africa". The second day is for training on the prevention of youth radicalization; during which it will be necessary to initiate the design and modeling of the modules envisaged in the framework of the implementation of the sub-regional project. The third day will allow the holding, in parallel, of the General Assembly of the sub-regional Council of ECCAS Youth and a wider meeting of the governing bodies of the Pan African Youth Network's for the Culture of Peace. The expanded PAYNCOP meeting will focus on issues of governance, implementation of national network in the various countries of the continent and revision of its action plan. III- Overall objective Strengthen youth involvement in promoting a culture of peace through prevention and the management of conflicts and violence in Africa in general; and by creating an early warning system, especially in Central Africa, with a view to building more resilient and peaceful societies. IV- Specific objectives 1) Identify modalities for youth involvement in the prevention of crises and conflicts and in the fight against religious, social and political radicalization; 4

5 2) Enable ownership by representatives of the National Councils of the Youth and the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace of the sub-regional project on "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa"; 3) To interest potential donors in financing the sub-regional project "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa"; 4) Begin the modeling and formatting of the training envisaged within the framework of implementation of the sub-regional project on "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa"; 5) Prepare a youth recommendation for adoption by the 45 th session of the the ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on security issues in Central Africa (UNSAC), of the subregional project ""Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa" 6) To allow the parallel holding of the General Assembly of the sub-regional Council of ECCAS Youth Forum and an expanded meeting of the Pan- African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace, reflecting on the improvement of its governance, the definition of PAYNCOP's development strategy on the continent and the revision of its Plan of Action. V- Participants - Representatives of the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace (22); - Representatives of National Youth Councils of ECCAS countries (11); - The Gabonese Minister in charge of Youth (1); - The Gabonese Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs (1); - The Gabonese Minister in charge of the interior (1); - A Minister of ECCAS countries in charge of youth (1); - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Africa, Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (1); - Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General for the Central Africa sub-region (3); - UNESCO's Deputy Director-General for Africa Department (1); - The Secretary General of ECCAS (1); - Resident Coordinators of the United Nations System in ECCAS countries (11); - A Representative of the African Union (1); - A Representative of the OIF (1); 5

6 - A Representative of the ADB (1); - A Representative of the European Union (1); - A Representative of the World Bank (1); - A Representative of the Development Bank of Central African States (1); - A Representative of the Islamic Development Bank (1); - A Representative of PBSO (1); - A Representative of the Omar Bongo Ondimba Foundation for Peace, Science, Culture and the environment (1); - Representative (s) of the Network of Foundations and Research Institutions for the promoting a culture of peace in Africa; - A Representative of UN-Women; - A Representative of UNFPA. 6

7 VI Draft Agenda Day 1 30 November 2017 (Sino Gabonese Friendship Stadium of Angondje) 08 h h 30 Arrival and registration of participants 08 h h 00 Arrival of Officials Opening Ceremony 09 h h 00 Statement from Mr. Ekene John Paul IKWELLE, President of the PanAfrican Youth Network for a Culture of Peace (PAYNCOP) Video Message from Mr. Forest WHITAKER, UNESCO Special Envoy for peace and reconciliation Speech from Mr. Ahmad ALLAM MI, Secretary General of CEEAC Speech from Mr. Edouard Firmin MATOKO, UNESCO Deputy Director General for Africa Department Speech from Mr. Mathias OTOUNGA OSSIBADJOUO, Gabonese Minister for sports, Tourism and Leisure 10 h h 10 Group Photo 10 h h 40 Coffee Break Round Table Understanding and fighting against radicalization of youth through the involvement of youth s movements Moderator : Mister Jean Pierre Loïc NKULU ATANGANA, Central Africa PAYNCOP Regional Coordinator (Cameroon) 10 h h 50 "Introduction to the phenomenon of radicalization of young people in Africa (its causes and impact)" by Doctor Bakary SAMBE, Professor researcher, Director of the Observatory of Radicals and Religious Conflicts in Africa (ORCRA) at Timbuktu Institute African Center for Peace Studies (Dakar Senegal) 10 h h 40 "The fight against youth s radicalization by youth movements: state of the art" sharing experiences of five (5) young people representing North Africa, West Africa, Africa of the East, Southern Africa and Central Africa Panelists 1) Mister Hamed ALASAFY, North Africa PAYNCOP Regional Coordinator (Lybia) 2) Mister Ekene Johnpaul IKWELE, PAYNCOP President and West Africa Regional Coordinator (Nigeria) 3) Miss Noéline NALUKWAGO, PAYNCOP National Coordinator (Ouganda) 4) Miss Letima MPHO, PAYNCOP National Coordinator 7

8 (Lesotho) 5) Miss Bernadine Terache BONARE, General Secretary of PAYNCOP National Coordinator (Central African Republic) 11 h h 50 Presentation of the sub regional Project on "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa" by His Excellency Mr. Baudouin HAMULI KABARHUZA, Ambassador, Director of Political Affairs and Central African Early Warning Mechanism (MARAC) to ECCAS 11 h h 10 Discussions 13 h h 10 Lunch Break Appropriation Session on the sous regional project on "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa" 14 h h 25 Presentation of the axis "Strengthening the capacity of National Youth Councils and their members in management of associative movements" by Mr. Stephen ONDIAS, President of the National Youth Council of Gabon h h h 45 Discussion 15 h h 15 Coffee Break Presentation of UNESCO resources and tools for the development, implementation and revision of youth policies and training and capacity building for youth and their organizations by Mr Phinith CHANTHALANGSY, Social and Human Sciences Programme Specialist at UNESCO's National Office at Rabat (Maroco) 16 h h 30 Presentation of the axis "Setting-up of an early warning system for youth for peace and security in Central Africa" by Mr. Max Axel BOUNDA MOUSSAVOU, Permanent Secretary of the Pan African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace 16 h h 45 Presentation of the ECCAS Central Africa Early Warning Mechanism (MARAC) by Mr. Bonheur DJERABE DJATTO, ICT Expert at Political Affairs Direction and Central African Early Warning Mechanism (MARAC) to ECCAS 16 h h 00 Presentation of the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) experience by Mr; Alimou DIALLO, WANEP Liaison Office with ECOWAS 17 h h 15 Presentation of UNESCO resources and tools for education and training in the culture of peace, conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, global citizenship and regional integration, by Doctor Juste Joris TINDY-POATY, Consultant Culture of Peace at the UNESCO Office in Libreville (Gabon) 8

9 17 h h 15 Discussions 18 h 15 End of Day 1 Day 2, 1st December 2017 (Sino Gabonese Friendship Stadium of Angondje) 08 h h 30 Welcome of participants Training on the prevention of radicalization and on de radicalization of young people Moderator: Miss Pamela Audrey DEROM, First Vice President of the National Youth Council of Central African Republic 09 h h 45 What methodological tools for anticipating radicalization? What tools for de radicalization? by Doctor Bakary SAMBE, Professor Researcher, Director of the Observatory of Radicals and Religious Conflicts in Africa (ORCRA) at Timbuktu Institute African Center for Peace Studies (Dakar Senegal) 09 h h 00 Presentation of UNESCO resources and tools to combat radicalization and violent extremism online, by Mr. Michel KENMOE, National Programme Officer for Communication and Information at the UNESCO Office in Libreville (Gabon) 10 h h 30 Discussions 11 h h 00 Coffee Break 12 h h 00 Exchanges on the definition and modeling of training envisaged under the two axes of the sub regional project "Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa" 14 h h 00 Lunch Break Official Closing Ceremony 15 h h 00 Reading of the Youth Declaration for the adoption of the subregional project Capacity building of youth in the management of associative movements and a youth early warning system for peace and security in Central Africa" by the 45 th Session of the Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Matters in Central Africa (UNSAC) Words from the donor representatives Speech by Mr. François LOUNCENY FALL, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) Speech by Mr. Noël Nelson MESSONE, Gabonese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Francophonie and Regional 9

10 16 h 00 End 19 h h 00 Diner et cultural evening Integration, in charge of Gabonese Abroad Speech by Mr. Mathias OTOUNGA OSSIBADJOUO, Gabonese Minister for Sports, Tourism and Leisure Day 3, 02 December 2017 Parallel meetings of the Pan African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace and the ECCAS Sub regional Council of Youth 10