Addis Ababa — After two days of discussions and information sharing on key issues and challenges young people from across the African continent, young people have identified their priorities in relation to health (including sexual and reproductive health and rights), education, employment, civil participation and peace and security.

Citizens of the world's youngest continent, African youth represent an enormous development resource for the region their priorities are aimed at ensuring that their potential is released to drive sustainable economic development. The Youth Pre-Conference Statement has a strong focus on the rights of young women and other vulnerable groups, such as people living with disabilities, HIV/AIDS and LGBTI and aims to ensure that young people in all their diversity can participate in and benefit from the region's development.

The Youth Statement will feed into an African intergovernmental meeting, organised jointly with ECA and the African Union to be held in Addis Ababa from 30th September to 4th October. Youth representatives will attend this meeting, alongside civil society representatives, to help build a common African position on addressing gaps, challenges and emerging issues in relation to the achievement of the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development.