Benin Youth hold National conversation on Democracy and Governance Trends

On this day October 10^th, youth in Benin Republic meet in the fame of African Union High Level on Democracy And Governance Trends (DGTRends) to assess and decide ways forwards on Youth Leadership and Participation in political parties in the country. As a youth-driven process and initiative of the African Union Commission’s Political Department , this national conversation is a first of its kind for it provides opportunity for young people to encourage each other in active citizenship that goes beyond simple ballot to promote significant involvement in politics.

Benin has embraced democratic governance system since February 1990 and has held presidential elections on a regular basis. Though the country has been enjoying peace and stability in a democratic context through active participation of civil society, respect for the rule of law with strong institutions , the challenge still remains women participation in the sphere of decisions making. In 25 years, only 3 women have run for presidential elections while women make up to 60% of the population. In order to tape into that extraordinary asset, Benin Youth will be (1) sharing evidence-based knowledge and analysis on youth and particularly young women’s participation in political parties in Africa, (2) Exchanging comparable lessons, experience and practices on the roles of young people in fostering accountable, responsive and effective governance throughout the continent, (3) Assessing the effectiveness of the existing participatory structures of youth and particularly young women in political parties; and (4) Identifying the specific roles of state and non-state actors (especially civil society) as well as National development partners towards strengthening youth engagement in democratic governance.

This timely Conversation (the country is having its next presidential election on next February) is a half day event that mingles panel discussions and breakout sessions. Subjects of discussion range from Youth and women leadership in electoral process and governance, how the civil society can help in the quest for women empowerment towards their increased involvement in politics, while workshops will deliberate on Youth involvement in politics: incentives, challenges and recommendations for actions, both as advocacy tools and personal responsibilities, as enshrined in continental and national legal frameworks, namely the African Youth charter, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’s Rights, Benin national constitution , and many more.

The overall goal of the 2015 Youth Consultations is to provide a collaborative, open and inclusive space for young people involved in different spheres of political life across their respective regions to discuss the current state of youth political participation particularly young women and the prospects that they envision for strengthening the ways in which young people and young women particularly can lead and serve in political parties and governments.

Benin Consultation is a series to be undertaken between August 24 and September 25,2015 as part of the “activities of the 2015 (4th) High Level Dialogue (HLD) on Democracy, Elections and Governance which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 26-27 November 2015,” and the African Union Commission (AUC) is committed to “facilitate the inclusion of young people’s specificities and voices into the conversation through National Conversations, around the theme “Youth participation and leadership in political parties in Africa: Special focus on young women”. A Continental Youth Consultations is due to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 23-25 November, 2015 and the theme of the Youth Consultation is linked to that of the 2015 Dialogue under the theme “Women’s Equal Participation and Leadership in Political Parties in Africa”. ( Source: DGTrends website ).

It’s to recall that this conversation is organized by IRENICASHE , a youth-led organization in partnership with many others, including Zayrah Africa, Development Agency.