AWD Report 2020
9. YOUNG WOMEN’S MOVEMENT
Objective 10 of the AWD aims to energise the African women’s movement, and to mentor young women and men leaders and professionals, both in Africa and the Diaspora.
9.1. Issue Analysis Young women in Africa metamorphosed during the Decade, and their voices became louder. At the start of the Decade, the young women’s movement was close to non-existent, and the voices of young women and girls were not necessarily part of the larger women’s movement within the continent. Significant challenges, such as representation and participation, were not being considered. Most young women who did not hold positions of power were denied an opportunity to influence policy-making processes and ensure the inclusion of their unique issues within the larger movement. In Africa, young women and girls aged 15–35 make up over 40% of the continent’s population and will, with the right investments in education and health, position Africa to reap a demographic dividend. Over the Decade, Africa experienced a rise in young women’s organising themselves and exercising their voices to challenge inequalities and oppressions. Among the objectives of the AWD, the AU and its Member States is a special focus on mentoring youth (men and women) to be champions of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Notably, Objective 10 of the AWD aims to energise the African women’s movement, and to mentor young women and men leaders and professionals, both in Africa and the Diaspora, to be champions on gender equality and women’s empowerment.2186 AU Agenda 2063 recognises that the development of the continent relies on its people, especially women, youth and children. Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 calls for an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.2187 State Parties should therefore invest in the people in both economic and social development terms in order to improve their developmental index. Results confirm that Africa is failing to achieve its full growth potential because a sizeable portion of its growth reserve – women – is not fully utilised.2188 The AU has been at the forefront in investing in young people, especially the young women’s movement, in an effort to harness the demographic dividend through different
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