The participants of the four parallel activities organised back-to-back with the Joint Programme of the University on the theme “FortheCulture of Human Rights and the Rule of Law” presented their work in a plenary session at the end of the week.

The session was introduced by the final guest expert, Joshua Quaye, from the Women, Gender & Youth Directorate of the African Union. He emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for youth through meaningful and inclusive engagement, especially considering that nearly half of the population on the African continent is under 35.

The second training of the Rule of Law Youth Network (RoLYN), organised by the North-South Centre with the support of the South Programme V "Protecting human rights, rule of law and democracy through shared standards in the Southern Mediterranean" was an occasion for the members to continue their work regarding the linkages between Corruption and Environment through informative sessions and practical applications: 

Throughout the week, participants engaged in informative sessions with renowned speakers. Ana SELIC, from the Economic Crime and Cooperation Division of the Council of Europe, intervened remotely, António Delicado, a legal advisor to the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and a member of GRECO (Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe), presented GRECO's activities and the main associated conventions. Arlette Akingeneye, from the Health & Wellbeing department of the African Union Youth Program, shared opportunities for youth engagement. Evina Gonçalves, from the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Cabo Verde, highlighted key environmental protection measures and structures, including the strengthening and expansion of protected areas at the national level and of government policies to combat climate change.

Participants also learned about various conventions covering the EMEA region, gaining insights into their mechanisms and impacts. To apply the knowledge gained, role-playing games were organized to simulate real scenarios, featuring case studies to determine which conventions applied to each situation. Participants studied fictional corruption cases that incorporated the individual realities of their countries. They followed a methodology to address these corruption cases and develop strategies as members of civil society to advocate, raise awareness, and implement measures to combat environmental corruption.

Rayan Mahfouz, RoLYN members from Lebanon and board member at Act4Impact who currently works with peacebuilding, human rights advocacy, and accessible and innovative volunteerism, shared his thoughts on the training: "I have learned to raise awareness by exploring the different dimensions of the Rule of Law and the development issues in communities. I aim to reinforce partnerships and collective efforts to build a transparent and socially informed community."

The Council of Europe Human Rights Directorate together with Ensemble contre la Peine de Mort and Prison Insider organised a workshop aligned with the guidelines set forth by the Reykjavik Summit regarding efforts for the universal abolition of the Death Penalty.

Participants included youth workers, activists, young professionals from various African organisations, all dedicated to human rights advocacy and the abolition of the death penalty. During the five days of the University, they all worked on enhancing their theoretical knowledge: gaining a deep understanding of abolitionist arguments and the global situation regarding the death penalty. They also learned about advocacy methods and techniques, public mobilisation, and networking. Finally, participants had the opportunity of collaborating to shared learning and mutual support while mastering collaborative project construction.

The workshop also provided space to talk with experts and decision makers such as Julien Ngane Ndour, Specialist member of the Working Group on the Death Penalty of the African Union Commission on Human and People’s Rights, and Mounir Bensalah, Secretary General of the Human Rights Council of Morocco.

Sébastien Poteaufeu, Coordinator for the Abolition of the death penalty stressed that “Participants reflected on their work as young ambassadors against the death penalty and have started to think about actions they will carry out in the future.”

Zaara Cissé from YADA Mali (Young African Defender in Action) affiliated with AHRN (African Human Rights Network) and Mariam Diallo, jurist at the Mauritanian Association for Human Rights (AMDH) declared: “We had the opportunity to participate in the workshop on the abolition of the death penalty. It was a rich experience, full of knowledge, learning, and interaction among participants from various countries in Africa and Europe. We came with high expectations and are leaving satisfied, equipped with strong arguments to defend human rights and continue the fight for the abolition of the death penalty.”

The Instituto do Desporto e da Juventude emphasized the importance of human rights principles within the private sector with a training addressed to young entrepreneurs. During the training, the participants from different Cabo Verdean islands discussed social entrepreneurship, fundamental rights, inclusive methodologies and community engagement. They received a copy of the Global Education Guidelines. The training session also explored the relationship between human rights and environmental protection, emphasizing their interdependence. It included a focus on biodiversity protection as part of ethical responsibilities and sustainable development practices, within Cabo Verde's insular environment.

Finally, the Meeting of stakeholders active in the field of youth organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe brough together representatives from Europe and Africa to focus on human rights and human rights education. It included representatives from the Advisory Council on Youth, the African Union Diaspora Youth Initiative, the Portuguese National Youth Council, the European Commission, the European Steering Committee for Youth, the Youth Forum of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community, the Italian National Youth Council, the Network of International Youth Organizations in Africa, the Panafrican Youth Union, UNV Cabo Verde and the World Organization of the Scout Movement - Africa Region.

This gathering served as a platform for institutions and organisations to exchange perspectives, strategies, and best practices, as well as to coordinate their efforts. The meeting aimed to foster effective policymaking to advance youth rights and quality education across borders based on Global Education methodology. At the end of the meeting, participants collaborated to draft a one-year timeline, outlining key milestones and activities to be accomplished in the framework of specific events such as the African Youth Month.

Peer and intercultural learning are components of the North-South Centre’s approach. During the Universities, the North-South Centre creates a dynamic environment where participants from different regions and backgrounds can learn from each other’s perspectives, experiences, and expertise. This interactive approach serves individual and collective learning journeys by broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of human rights principles and the Rule of Law through concrete subtopics addressed to young multipliers.

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).

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 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.