This year, the African University on Youth and Development (AUYD) is to take place from 25 to 29 June 2024 in Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde, on the theme #Fortheculture of Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

The AUYD is a partnership biannual event organized by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, part of its Summer Universities. It consists of a week-long programme integrating capacity building activities, multilateral meetings, and plenary sessions that address a topical annual theme relevant to youth stakeholders in Africa and Europe.

This year’s edition brings together around 80 young participants from more than 30 different nationalities. With ages between 18 and 30 years old, participants representing various youth organisations will gain knowledge of international conventions aimed at promoting a culture of human rights and the rule of law.

The event will also feature institutional representatives such as Carla Grijó, Ambassador to the European Union Delegation in Cabo Verde; Carlos Monteiro, Deputy to the Prime Minister, responsible for Youth and Sports of the Government of Cabo Verde; Jorge Orlando Queirós, President of the Steering Committee for Youth of the Council of Europe, Mounir Bensalah, Secretary General of the Human Rights Council of Morocco, among others. 

The AUYD comprises four parallel activities:

• The topic #Fortheculture of Human Rights and the Rule of Law provides an excellent opportunity for the North-South Centre to bring together the participants of the Rule of Law Youth Network for the second time, to explore the correlation between corruption and environmental protection based on Council of Europe and other international standards.
   
• The workshop “Advocacy and Awareness-raising for Abolition of the Death Penalty” organized jointly by Together against the death penalty (ECPM) and the Council of Europe Directorate of Human Rights, welcomes students in law, journalism, political science, communication, arts, education, and humanities, as well as active members of civil society passionate about Human Rights and eager to contribute to the process of universal abolition of the death penalty in Africa.
   
• The Meeting of Europe-Africa stakeholders active in the field of youth gathers relevant players of the youth sector to identify common priorities and explore synergies for a greater coordination in the youth field in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region.
   
• Another activity is being organized by Cabo Verde’s Institute of Sports and Youth (IDJ), focusing on Human Rights in the private sector. This event aims to raise awareness and engage participants on the importance of upholding Social Entrepreneurship values. The event is open to young people from Cabo Verde, providing an opportunity to engage with experts and participate in interactive discussions.

The AUYD is organised in collaboration with the North-South Centre's Network on Youth and Global Citizenship and in the framework of iLEGEND III: Intercultural Learning Exchange through Global Education, Networking and Dialogue, a Joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe: co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. The overall objective of the project is to increase the active engagement of EU member States, candidates, and potential candidate countries’ citizens (in particular young people) in safeguarding sustainable development and confronting global challenges and inequalities at local and global level. Three activities of the programme also benefit from the Project “Peace YP, promoting Euro-Africa cooperation to enhance youth participation for peace”, financed by the Governments of Malta, Portugal, and Spain.

The 2024 edition is organised with the support of the hosting authorities of Cabo Verde: the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration, and Cabo Verde’s Institute of Sports and Youth (IDJ).

 To follow the event, join our social media  

 Read the Concept Note for more details about about the theme, guests and Programme. 

 Access the webpage of the AUYD to learn more about the other editions.