Luanda – The board of the 3rd edition of the Luanda Biennial recommended, Thursday, the regular promotion of intergenerational dialogue to ensure continuous communication between political leaders and young people.
According to the final communiqué, the Forum organized by the government of Angola, the African Union and UNESCO, recommended the implementation of policies that ensure the political participation of young people in decision-making processes to ensure that their proposals are heard and integrated into programs and strategies.
It called for a review of educational systems, prioritizing the training of critical and active citizens, enabling young people and entrepreneurs to better understand political processes and play more significant roles in society.
It suggested the formulation of policies that promote gender equality, massification and the creation of scientific research centers and resilience programs to deal with climate change.
It also recommended the expansion of the culture of peace through access and efficient use of digital technologies and the creation of an African women's network for conflict prevention, peace negotiation and national reconciliation.
The Biennale was also supportive of the integration of women in matters of conflict resolution, observing the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the UN, as well as the increase in the number of women in conflict prevention and resolution actions.
The development of policies and programs that encourage innovative youth-led initiatives, through investment in research, funding and support to transform bold ideas into practical solutions, was also required.
The Forum, which had 790 participants from different African countries, advocated the establishment of partnerships between political leaders and young people, in sustainable social and economic projects that benefit society as a whole.
It also called for the implementation of policies that promote women's economic autonomy, providing employment opportunities, access to financial resources and training in relevant skills.
It reinforced the continued need for financing projects and initiatives that promote the active participation of women in all areas of society, thus ensuring lasting peace, security and sustainable development for all.
There was recognition of the strategic importance of the carbon market development in Africa, in order to promote the growth of credit production, as referred to in the Nairobi, Kenya declaration on climate change.
The final communiqué calls for observation of the declaration of principle of ethics related to climate change adopted by UNESCO, as a true guide for African countries, having also recommended training of countries on mechanisms for accessing the carbon market in order to better benefit from the initiative.
The Biennale reiterates the principles of contributing to silencing the guns on the continent and reinforces the commitment to promoting the culture of peace, reconciliation and harmony among peoples as determining factors for their development and that of their peoples.
The Forum took place under the motto "Education, culture of peace and African citizenship as tools for the development of the continent”.
Officialy opened by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, the Third Edition of the Luanda Biennial had the participation of counterparts from Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, and São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, as well as former heads of States of South Africa, Malawi and Nigeria.
There were also national and foreign rulers, members of the legislative and judicial power, political parties and the diplomatic corps, civil society, academics and traditional ecclesiastical authorities and young people from various nations.
The Minister of State for the Social Sector, Dalva Ringote, declared that holding the forum shows that the country advocates dialogue initiatives that promote peace.
She highlighted that positive lessons were learned from the forum, such as the need for permanent dialogue with youth and women, who, in turn, must be included in decision-making processes and the formulation of public policies.
The Angolan government official also called for greater attention to women in peace decisions, conflict resolution and their prevention.
She said it is necessary for women to be able to stand alongside men and be valued for their intellectual capacity so that they can contribute to the stability of a continent that everyone is proud of.
Looking internally, the Minister of State stated that Angola has been moving towards progress and the well-being of its populations, taking into account achievements in the areas of education, health and the development of human capital.
The Luanda Biennale 2023 aimed, among others, to deepen and share visions on the culture of peace, security, African citizenship, democracy, building more peaceful societies, transforming attitudes and approaches in the political, economic and social domains for strengthening the pillars of the continent's integral growth.
It also aimed at greater coordination with the African Union in carrying out activities inherent to peace and stability, within the framework of the agenda of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, as champion of the union for peace and reconciliation on the continent.
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