This year’s celebration will be dedicated to the youths and to the young adults of Africa and of the diaspora who have made their mark in the world by their achievements in various areas such as Social Activism, Science, Technology, Sports, Art, Film, and literature etc. The goal is to identify six (6) such individuals who have excelled in their respective fields and have been recognized by their peers or by their professional Association as reaching the highest standard. We have invited recommendations from the United Nations system entities as well as from African Associations in the United States and Youth organizations in Africa. The individuals selected will be invited to participate in the Africa Day event so as to shine a spotlight on them and on their achievements as an example of what this generation of Africans are able to produce when given the opportunity.
AFRICA DAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS
25 May 2022, 3:00pm New York Time,
Trusteeship Council Room
Special Guest, Queen Makhadzi, Member of the Royal Family of the Venda and Pedi People of South Africa
What is celebrated today as Africa Day was initially African Liberation
Day, so named to mark the day when the Organization of African Unity
(the OAU) was formed when thirty newly independent nations in Africa
came together to sign a groundbreaking charter to be united in an
organization and to collectively support the struggles of freedom
fighters in South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, and Southern Rhodesia.
This meeting took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25 May 1963
resulting in 25 May being declared Africa Day. In 2002 African
Liberation Day was renamed Africa Day.
Today, with all fifty-four countries in Africa becoming independent, in
addition in celebrating the creation of the African Union, Africa Day has
become an occasion to celebrate the wonderful and diverse cultures of
Africa, including its music, art, fashions, unique fabric designs, dance,
cuisines, its sporting accomplishments, and technological advancement.
Africa Day is celebrated in many capitals around the world.
The African Renaissance and Diaspora Network was among the first
organizations in New York City and certainly within the Diplomatic
Community to celebrate AFRICA day. For several years now that task
had fallen to the African Union Observer Mission to the UN and their
gala event At the Manhattan Center had become a feature in the
Diplomatic calendar. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and
the restrictions implemented the Gala celebratory events were not held
in 2020 and 2021.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. It is a known fact that Africa has the youngest population of all the continents in the world. Seventy percent of all people in Sub Saharan Africa are under the age of thirty. This is a unique driver for economic growth and development, a vehicle for creating several million jobs, reducing poverty, and lifting the standard of living of this and the next generation of Africans. However, to achieve the development that we seek, young people must be empowered to fulfill their potential and be able to participate in decision making at all levels. They must not simply be observers at the meetings of policy making bodies. It is this potential that must be nurtured and allowed to flourish by creating educational opportunities, ensuring the health and wellbeing of all, and eliminating gender disparities which deny millions of women and girls the opportunities for self-realization.
PROPOSED PROGRAMME. ARDN and partners propose to host this year’s Africa Day celebration at the United Nations. This year’s celebration will be dedicated to the youths and to the young adults of Africa and of the diaspora who have made their mark in the world by their achievements in various areas such as Social Activism, Science, Technology, Sports, Art, Film, and literature etc. Our goal is to identify six (6) such individuals who have excelled in their respective fields and have been recognized by their peers or by their professional Association as reaching the highest standard. We have invited recommendations from the United Nationssystem entities as well as from African Associations in the United States and Youth organizations in Africa. The individuals selected will be invited to participate in the Africa Day event so as to shine a spotlight on them and on their achievements as an example of what this generation of Africans are able to produce when given the opportunity. The Africa Day celebration will focus particularly on the following Sustainable Development Goals:
Within the framework of ARDN’s Red Card Campaign to empower, and
to end all forms of discrimination and violence against, women and girls,
the Africa Day celebration will further ensure that the young people
spotlighted will highlight young women leaders across various sectors, as
well as young male leaders focused on advancing the equality, dignity
and rights of women and girls.
CO-ORGANIZERS. ARDN’s co-organizers for this programme include the Permanent
Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, the
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Nigeria to the United Nations, the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Africa Bureau of the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations
Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN
Women), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat), the Pan-African Youth Organization and the Iteka Youth
Organization based in Kigali, Rwanda. [Final List TBD]
RED CARD CAMPAIGN.Women’s rights are human rights. In the game of football (soccer), a red
card symbolizes a significant infraction of the rules. ARDN Red Card
Campaign seeks to mobilize individuals from all sectors of society to
commit to giving a red card to all forms of discrimination and violence
against women and girls.
The Red Card Campaign falls within the framework of the Pathway to
Solution’s Initiative, an international, multilateral special project for the
United Nations, spearheaded by ARDN, to popularize the Sustainable
Development Goals, in collaboration with United Nations system
entities, the international community, civil society, the private sector,
academia, the world of sport and culture and governments.
To sign the Red Card Pledge: For more about Pathway to Solutions.
CONTACT
For more information, please contact Ms. Arlene Katzive, Director of
External Relations, African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, at
arlene.katzive@ardn.ngo
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