The Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) is partnering with the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) to promote basic quality and affordable education to commemorate Human Rights Day. The event which is holding in Monrovia, Liberia from 16-18th January aims to advance the Right to Education by improving accessibility, affordability and efficiency to every citizen of the ECOWAS community.
YIAGA also facilitated a regional dialogue to discuss democratic accountability, civic space and youth radicalization in the West African region. The dialogue will also enable youths provide feed backs on various ECOWAS initiatives.
At the Human Rights Day event in Liberia, YIAGA presented a report on youth candidacy around Africa, showing the number of young people who have contested political offices in various parts of the continent. This is in a bid to further encourage youths especially in Nigeria to run for political offices, leveraging on YIAGA’s ReadyToRun platform for support.
Speaking during the Human Rights Day celebration in Monrovia, YIAGA Programs Cynthia Mbamalu said, the trends from the Report on Youth Candidacy in Africa also shows that young people are winning more parliamentary elections than executive seat even though finance has been a major challenge according to the report.
Pertinent questions regarding the education standard of the members of the ECOWAS sub-region as another hinderance against political participation of young people and women. While seeking to attain its Vision 2020 goal for education, this year’s celebration of Human Rights Day stimulated political will and policy decision in a bid to enable legislation and resources from governments of Member States shift from passive policy approach to a much more proactive approach. This according to the ECOWAS Commissioner of Political affairs, Peace and Security: H.E Halima Ahmed (Mrs), will improve the accessibility, affordability and efficiency of education to the ordinary citizen of the community, thereby increasing literacy rate in the region.
Mrs. Ahmed facilitated sessions on the Trends, Challenges and Prospects of Protecting and Promoting Human Rights in Member States in the context of Right to Education. This provided the opportunity to review progress and analyses challenges towards the protection and promotion of human rights. Panelists which include former Executive Secretary of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA), Mr Saka Azimazi and Senior Human Rights Officer – United Nations Office for West Africa & Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. William Lifongo, proffered practical solutions and policy recommendations targeted at enhancing the protection and promotion of human rights in the region.
Furthermore, the 2-day event in Monrovia enhanced quality and inclusivity in the Respect for Right to Education which is geared towards the attainment of ECOWAS Vision 2020, while also protecting and promoting Rights to Education for the effective realization and enjoyment in ECOWAS Member States. Delegates from member countries brainstormed on creating access and opportunity for Children into school as a means of promoting the effectiveness of deepening the respect for Right to Education in the ECOWAS Region. Also present at the event is the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and newly elected President of Liberia, George Opong Weah.
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