ADS 2025, Sub-theme 3 – Youth Stage | Office of the Special Adviser on Africa

In Focus

Latest updates

Attend the High-Level Policy Dialogue on 30 May at 3 p.m. (New York time) in Conference Room 4, UNHQ, New York or watch online on or on our website on YouTube in and .

In case you missed it

Watch the recording of the International Webinars that took place on 7 May, 14 May and 21 May.
Watch the recording of the Youth Stages that took place on 8 May,15 May and 22 May.
Read our latest policy briefs on Learning from the Past: Transatlantic Slave Trade, Colonialism, Extractive Economies and Institutions in Africa, Understanding the Present: Economic, Social and Cultural Justice for Sustainable Development and Building the Future: Healing and Reparations towards Socio-Economic Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.

Week 3 | Day Four — 22 May

“Reparations are not merely a financial compensation. They represent a profound moral and ethical obligation to acknowledge the wrongs of the past. They symbolize a commitment to healing, reconciliation, and the restoration of dignity. ”

H.E. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission

The third and final Youth Stage during the African Dialogue Series (ADS) 2025 will focus on the sub-theme “Building the Future: Healing and Reparations towards Socio-Economic Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.”

This important dialogue will take place on Thursday, 22 May, from 9 to 11 a.m. New York time.

It is part of a broader initiative to unpack the African Union’s Theme of the Year and engage young people in meaningful discussions about our collective past and future.

The dialogue seeks to:

Explore healing and reparations for socio-economic justice, focusing on restoring human dignity, addressing psychological trauma, and creating frameworks for reparatory justice in response to historical injustices.
Advocate for comprehensive policies to achieve socio-economic justice, including education, skills development, health, economic empowerment, resilience building, cultural preservation, legal reforms, and equitable policy implementation for Africans and people of African descent.
Explore partnerships to pursue reparatory justice, repair and recovery from the psychological trauma endured from colonial and neo-colonial exploitation to restore the human dignity of Africans and people of African descent.

Schedule

9 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. New York (UTC-4)
3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Geneva/Paris
4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Addis Ababa

Programme

Times shown are New York local time, UTC-4

9 a.m. - 9.05 a.m.: Welcome

Ms. Juliet Wasswa Mugambwa, Senior Programme Management Officer, OSAA

9.05 a.m. - 9.15 a.m.: Opening Remarks

Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, Director, Policy, Monitoring and Advocacy, OSAA

9.15. a.m. - 10.30 a.m.: Panel Discussion

Moderators

? Anne-Rose Osamba, Founder, Uzalendo Afrika Initiative
? Ana Hurtado, Journalist, Revista Afrocolectiva and Researcher. Kutusoma

Panelists

? Dr. Cherisse Francis, Commonwealth Youth, Human Rights and Democracy Network and Associate Researcher, Queen Mary's University London Institute of Commonwealth Studies

? John Musekera, Research Fellow, UN Economic Commission for Africa

? Kendell Vincent, Global Focal Point - SIDS, UN Major Group Children and Youth

? Michelle Chioniso Murinda, Global Co-Chair, African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Youth Caucus

? Esquire Henry, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Antigua and Barbuda

? Alejandra Tentle, Historian, writer and activist, The Millenials Movement

? Bethelhem Jambo Kassa, Social Media Manager, Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA)

10.30 a.m. - 10.50 a.m.: Interactive Q & A

Includes audience participation

10.50 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.: Closing Remarks and Looking Ahead

Ms. Juliet Wasswa Mugambwa, Senior Programme Management Officer, OSAA

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