KAMPALA — The Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) has called for reforms to the United Nations Security Council, greater representation of Africa and the Arab world in global decision-making, and increased investment in youth employment, education and entrepreneurship.
The council said the international system must be reformed to reflect the interests of developing countries and respond to the aspirations of young people, who continue to face unemployment, armed conflicts, economic inequalities and the effects of climate change.
In a declaration issued on October 24, 2026, to mark United Nations Day, the AAYC urged world leaders to move beyond symbolic youth participation and establish mechanisms that give young people a meaningful role in shaping policies at national, regional and international levels.
“Arab and African youth must not be regarded merely as beneficiaries of international policies, but as active partners in their formulation, implementation and in holding institutions accountable for their outcomes,” the declaration reads.
The statement, issued in Kampala to mark the 81st anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to peace, justice, human rights and international cooperation.
The AAYC argued that reforms to the UN Charter and Security Council should ensure equitable representation of Africa, the Arab world and other developing countries, alongside a review of the modalities governing the use of the veto.
It also called for stronger institutional accountability and the inclusion of young people in international reform processes.
Youth participation in peace and security
The council urged governments and international organisations to implement United Nations Security Council resolutions 2250, 2419 and 2535 on Youth, Peace and Security, saying young people should be involved in conflict prevention, reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction.
It also called for a comprehensive political settlement in Libya that preserves the country’s unity, sovereignty and stability while ensuring young people participate meaningfully in determining its future.
On Western Sahara, the AAYC expressed support for Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025), which the declaration said established Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as the basis for negotiations towards a lasting political solution.
The council further highlighted the plight of young people and civilians affected by armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, particularly in Palestine, Sudan and Yemen.
It called for the protection of their fundamental rights and their inclusion in recovery and reconstruction programmes.
Call for jobs and digital inclusion
On economic empowerment, the AAYC urged the international community to establish partnerships that create decent employment opportunities, finance youth-led enterprises and support innovation, entrepreneurship and the digital and green economies.
The council also called for equitable access to education, vocational training, technology and artificial intelligence, warning against widening knowledge and digital divides between countries and communities.
It said climate action should include meaningful youth participation in policymaking, alongside financing and technology to address desertification, water scarcity and other climate-related challenges.
The declaration further called for the protection of young people’s fundamental rights and freedoms, the elimination of discrimination and exclusion, and equal opportunities for young women and vulnerable groups.
Council seeks stronger institutional role
The AAYC proposed stronger partnerships with the United Nations, the African Union and the League of Arab States to improve the implementation of commitments on youth empowerment.
It also proposed establishing a specialised observatory within its institutional structures to monitor international commitments to young people and publish periodic reports and recommendations.
The council said such a mechanism would help track progress, identify implementation gaps and strengthen accountability among institutions responsible for youth development.
It urged governments and international partners to translate declarations and pledges into adequately funded programmes with measurable outcomes in employment, education, participation and development.
Vision 2035
The declaration aligns the council’s demands with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the AAYC Strategic Vision 2035, which guides its work on Afro-Arab solidarity, integration and youth empowerment.
The council pledged to translate its demands into practical initiatives, institutional partnerships and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to strengthen the contribution of African and Arab youth to development, peacebuilding and international cooperation.
“The value of international commitments is measured not by the scale of pledges made, but by their ability to bring about tangible improvements in people’s lives, particularly those of younger generations,” the declaration states.
The AAYC concluded that sustainable peace and equitable development would remain difficult to achieve without meaningful youth participation and fair representation of peoples in international institutions.
“Arab and African youth are not asking for a place on the margins of the future, but for their full right to participate in shaping it,” the declaration states.
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