President Biden will host the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., from December 13-15, 2022. The Youth Cafe has been invited by the United States Government to attend the Civil Society Forum on December 13, 2022, in Washington, D.C., at the United States Institute of Peace.  

In this special event, The Youth Cafe will highlight and elevate a diverse range of civil society voices on issues of importance related to ensuring the representation of marginalised voices in public affairs, countering corruption, and promoting workers’ rights.

The Summit’s goals are: fostering new economic engagement; reinforcing the shared U.S.-Africa commitment to democracy and human rights; mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and future pandemics; working collaboratively to strengthen regional and global health; promoting food security; advancing peace and security; responding to the climate crisis; and amplifying diaspora ties. These thematic areas correspond to The Youth Cafe’s Eight Thematic Areas of Work. 

The Civil Society Forum, “Inclusive Partnerships to Advance Agenda 2063,” hosted at the United States Institute for Peace on the morning of December 13, 2022, will provide the Summit’s primary platform for engagement between senior government representatives and civil society. The Forum will highlight civil society voices during three primary sessions on the following themes: marginalised voices in public life, labour rights, and anti-corruption.

 This session will bring together public officials, advocates, and leaders from marginalised populations to share experiences, ideas, and best practices on overcoming barriers and building safeguards to ensure that all voices are well represented in public life. Women, members of the  LGBTQI+ populations, Indigenous Peoples, marginalised racial and ethnic communities, religious minorities, persons with disabilities and other traditionally excluded groups are often subjected to discrimination and abuse when they engage in public debate, advocacy, and political life globally and in Africa. 

 While democracy emphasizes and indeed relies on diverse participation, it is essential to acknowledge and be sensitive to the risks and historical challenges that leaders from marginalized communities face when promoting their inclusion in public space. This session seeks to foster constructive dialogue on inclusion's concrete benefits from a policy perspective in development and democracy.