In celebration of International Youth Day, the All-Africa Students Union and the Model Commonwealth Summit, hosted an interactive online webinar with the Commonwealth Secretariat. This special session marked the occasion while preparing for the Model Commonwealth Summit taking place this September in Ghana.
Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, presented the Marlborough House Commitments, a significant step in recognizing the importance of investing in young people’s well-being, empowerment, and holistic development. These commitments serve as a baseline for policies, programs, and initiatives aimed at supporting youth across various sectors:
National Youth Policies & Legislation, Evidence-based national youth policies, action plans, and mainstreaming strategies.
Youth Participation in Policy Development – Inclusion of young people in formulating, implementing, and evaluating policies.
Social Inclusion & Equity – Tackling disparities and discrimination while promoting gender equality.
Youth Participation & Engagement – Strengthening youth councils, student bodies, and other participation mechanisms.
Safeguarding – Protecting children and young people from harm with robust frameworks.
Employment & Economic Opportunities – Promoting decent work, skills, entrepreneurship, and sector-specific policies.
Youth Work Professionalization – Recognizing and elevating youth work as a respected profession.
Environmental Sustainability – Actively engaging youth in climate action and conservation.
Interconnectedness with Global Agendas – Aligning national efforts with the SDGs and global commitments.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning – Tracking impact and ensuring accountability.
The discussion aimed to inspire young people to choose at least one of these commitments, start conversations, and demand accountability. Together, these voices delivered a clear message: the Commonwealth we want will be built when young people lead with courage, challenge the status quo, and turn commitments into measurable change.
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