No Peace In Africa Without Full Involvement Of Youth & Women – SA UN Envoy Matjila

Riyaz Patel

South Africa’s UN envoy has called on member states to demonstrate the political will to allow meaningful engagement with African youth in conflict prevention and peace-building.

Jerry Matjila was speaking as South Africa began its month-long tenure as president of the UN Security Council, presiding over a debate on peace and security in Africa, with a particular focus on the youth.

Matjila pointed out that conflict violates basic human rights – the rights to life, liberty, and security, and that the young people are sometimes forced into roles that make them more vulnerable such as: providers of sexual services, child soldiers, violent extremisms, arms smuggling and illicit trade in mineral resources.

He said Africa has the fastest growing population in the world, and it is important that the continent takes advantage of the demographic dividend from its youth bulge.

South Africa believes that we all need to double