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Two Generations – One Future: The Accra Declaration
14 January 2007
Partnership with Africa
We, a group of African and German young leaders, have come together in Accra to further a better understanding of problems we share. We appreciate the chance offered by the forum “Partnership with Africa” to discuss common concerns with leading personalities from Africa and Germany.
We are determined to develop and strengthen the contacts we have been able to establish in the effort to address the most pressing problems our countries face in a common world. We are convinced that we can meet today’s challenges only through a partnership of equals.
Our Common Concerns
Environment and the Natural Habitat
There is overwhelming evidence that the emission of greenhouse gases, associated with industrialisation and economic growth from a world population that has increased six-fold in 200 years, is causing global warming at a rate that is unsustainable. This is a challenge that cannot be tackled by a single state or government alone.
We acknowledge the value of agreements and international initiatives such as Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Kyoto Protocol. We also note that African states have made a significant contribution by transforming up to 30% of their territory into protected areas as a voluntary gift to the global society.
However, there are severe shortcomings: On the national level governments fail to implement and enforce environmental policies. Corruption, selfishness and short-sightedness in government and private companies continue to undermine the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
Everyday Violence and Armed Conflict
Violence and armed conflict in our societies are often the result of the failure on part of government to provide law and order, human security, and basic public goods. Governments provoke conflict through the deliberate political and economic exclusion and marginalization of sections of societies.
Young people are most affected by the consequences of this behaviour and at the same time, they are easily attracted to the violent methods adopted by non-state actors such as militant ethnic groups, insurgents, separatist movements and armed gangs in situations where states fail in their duties towards their citizens.
Violence is also inflicted on citizens, particularly the disadvantaged through custom-related and gender-based violence, and can in return trigger more violent behaviour.
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