Amman Declaration Launched In Somalia As Youth Commit To Peace

A roadmap to help the Somali youth contribute to achieving meaningful peace and security in the country was launched today in Mogadishu. Called the Amman Declaration on Youth, Peace and Security, the roadmap seeks to support youth in transforming conflict, preventing and countering violence and building sustainable peace in Somalia.

Organized by the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations and the youth groups Y-Peer and Maan Somalia, the launch was attended by hundreds of youths who took part in discussions on how to improve the participation of young people in the country’s affairs in order to promote peace and stability.

Several cabinet ministers attended the launch, among them the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan, the Minister for Women and Human Rights, Sahra Samatar, and the Planning and International Cooperation Minister, Abdi Aynte. Also on hand was the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Peter de Clercq.
The event brought together youth from all over the country who are interested in boosting their involvement in the political decision-making process of the country ahead of the 2016 electoral process.

Speaking at the close of the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arteh pledged that the Somali government would ensure implementation of the recommendations adopted at the launch.
“The force of the country is the youth. So we have to focus on the youth and aspects key to their development such as health, education and job creation. We have to protect them from migration and its negative consequences and safeguard their rights. All of that is of priority to the government,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.