Prince Moulay Rachid opens Summit of Young Leaders, August 18, 2005

20 janvier 2006

Prince Moulay Rachid presides 2nd Pan-African Summit of young leaders opening ceremony

Ifrane (east), Aug.18 - Prince Moulay Rachid (younger brother of king Mohammed VI), accompanied by Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, presided, here Thursday, the opening ceremony of the second edition of the Pan-african Summit of the young leaders.

The one-week summit held under the theme: "to offer a permanent process of follow-up to the young African leaders to contribute to the implementation of the Objectives of the Millennium for the Development" aims to strengthen the historic and brotherly ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the countries of Africa.

The Summit, held under the Efficient Presidency of King Mohammed VI, is an opportunity to recognize that the young constitute the future of the continent and offer the best chance for the society to find lasting solutions to the most pressing problems which the world is confronted to today.

Held on August 18 through 23 with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, of the United Nations system, the Global Peace Initiative of Women and the Program of United Nations for the Development, the summit brings together more than 200 young leaders to discuss issues on education and training of the Young Leader for the development of Africa.

The agenda of the summit also slates: the Young Leaders and the struggle against the VIH/SIDA, poverty, the protection of the environment, the mobilization of the young African leaders for the development of the continent: the role of NGOs and the abroad African Diaspora.

The role of the young African contractors in the promotion of investments, the new technologies in communications and information, good governance in Africa, Sport to the service of development and peace, notably in the setting of the commemoration of the International year of the Sport and the physical training 2005, are also on the discussion agenda.

The first Pan-African Youth Leadership Summit was held in Dakar, Senegal, 27-30 June 2004 as part of the Africa 2015 campaign to call attention to the Millennium Development Goals.

Africa 2015 recognizes young people as the future of the continent and the continent’s best chance to find lasting solutions to some of its most pressing problems. Young people and the organizations that speak on their behalf are a key audience and a central partner in the campaign.

With the theme “Providing a Global Platform for Africa’s Next Generation of Leaders in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” the Dakar summit brought together young leaders and representatives of youth organizations to exchange ideas and experiences, network and share proposals on how to achieve the Millennium goals.

Participants in Dakar established a permanent network with a board to monitor progress and guide future activities. They also developed a plan of action for their region and presented it to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.