First-ever national youth conference held in South Sudan with the support of the United Nations
The first-ever National Youth Conference held in recent history in South Sudan, bringing together over 200 youth from across the country was held in Juba from 29-30 August 2018 under the theme: Promotion of Youth Voices for Sustainable Peace and Development in South Sudan. The ground-breaking conference was organized under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the National Youth Union with support from UNESCO, UNFPA, UNMISS and other development partners.
The conference served as an inaugural platform for youth to engage decision-makers and other stakeholders on important issues affecting young people who make up over 70% of South Sudan’s population. A gathering of youth at this scale inclusive of youth from all backgrounds, such as gender, geographical location, ethnicity and other relevant characteristics has never taken place before in South Sudan. A Youth Declaration was adopted at the end of the conference with signatures from all participating youth.
The Juba Declaration on Youth Civic Engagement and Participation calls on all relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to the government, the UN and development partners, to continue to support youth civic engagement and meaningful participation in decision-making; strengthen vocational skills training for employment; and promote sports, arts and culture as mechanisms for building peace in the country among others. The Declaration was the first of its kind by the young people of South Sudan.
Participants emphasized that peace in South Sudan can only be sustainably achieved with the full and active involvement of young people as they are the majority of the population. Furthermore, the youth stressed the importance of support for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), so that young South Sudanese can obtain much needed skills for employment that can support their livelihoods and those of their families.
The conference was officially opened by the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and current Minister of General and Instruction. The DSRSG/RC/HC participated and made opening remarks highlighting the significance of involving the youth in South Sudan’s search for lasting peace.
Other notable attendees included the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly; Minister of Trade, Industry and East Africa Community Affairs; Undersecretary of Culture, Youth and Sports; Ambassador of the African Union Mission in South Sudan; UNFPA Representative in South Sudan; UNFPA Deputy Representative to South Sudan; UNESCO Eastern Africa Regional Advisor for Social and Human Sciences; Members of Parliament; and Embassy of Canada.