As we mark the 60th anniversary of the UN declaration of human rights, it is very important that nations adhere to and promote meaningful international standards. It's being realized that world governments pose the biggest threat to humanity, most especially in Africa where leaders have lost meaningful touch with the citizenry and are able to witness a worsening record of human rights violations. Besides all those challenges to humanity we are facing, African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) believes it's a dramatic and deeply promising time in our history, and we strongly call for the following:
1: Full support to human rights through effective means and recognized international standards. We must be blind when perusing justice for people who have suffered human rights abuse by holding accountable perpetrators of human rights abuse, whether they be in power or not. It's time we show feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our countries, whether they are women, children or victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity. And our leaders must not hang in power at the expense of innocent civilians; neither should they make African Union appear to be a forum for protectionism and special interest.
2: Our leaders should allow young people a place on the table to work along side others in shaping the future of Africa. We urge our African leaders to reduce on military spending in the continent, but promote and raise African citizens who are aware and capable of promoting the respect for humanity. After many years of hostility in Africa, children have suffered too long, cried for peace and our rights so bitterly, and unfortunately died too young.
3: To fellow youth, it's understandable how you have been pained and hurt with our sufferings. But there is hope and it's time we should come together as brothers and sisters, united by the special wisdom and compassion in our possessions and feeling for justice towards one another. Let's support our efforts to help our communities and victims of human rights abuse access a sustainable justice, as a symbolic mark of sustainable peace and human development. Much as other parts of the world are living an extra-ordinary comfortable life, it's not tenable as long an enormous portion of this world lives in abject poverty, humiliation and backwardness.
For now youth are better positioned and connected that not even political difference should divide us. We are one people, we are one family, and we are one nation. they're seeking to re-build not only physically but also the social class fabric of the community that has been ripped apart by the prolonged LRA war. African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) is a network of African Youth movements, organizations, activists and individuals who are committed to cause changes in the current unequal opportunities in socio-political and economic participation in African. The mission is to "generate activities which mobilize and strengthen youth and community's participations in promoting Peace and Justice. AYINET is a member and the host of Uganda Victim's Foundation. We solidly stand strong and united during this 60th Anniversaries of UN Declaration of Human Rights. Our nation/continent bears the consequences when young people continuously remain disempowered and deprived of human rights.
Victor Ochen is the founding director of the Africa Youth Information Network. http://www.ayinet.or.ug/