Representatives of AfriForum and AfriForum Youth will today make a submission to the Tenth Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva, Switzerland. The session’s theme this year is Youth and includes issues such as education, the youth’s participation in public affairs and use of social media to promote their rights.

According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, participation in this event is of great importance. “It is a platform where minorities and their civic organisations get an opportunity to not only bring the challenges facing them to the attention of the UN, but also to introduce these issues to other international organisations and lobby groups. Networks are established and best practices regarding the protection and promotion of civil rights are explored.”

Henk Maree, National Chairman of AfriForum Youth, agrees that participation in the Forum’s activities is essential. “We will utilise the opportunity to address the Forum in person, but will also submit a report to the Forum in order to identify the ways in which our youth is being discriminated against and how authorities are robbing people of future opportunities to contribute positively to their country of birth, for example by enforcing monolingual education, quota systems and a programme of affirmative action without a sunset clause.

This year AfriForum and AfriForum Youth also obtained permission from the UN to host a side event during the Forum’s session. It will take place today from 14:00 to 15:00 (South African time). Details about the submissions and side event will be announced via AfriForum and AfriForum Youth’s social media channels.