At the close of their first ever meeting, ministers of sports of the African Union (AU) reiterated their commitment to use sports for the improvement of the wellbeing of their citizens, especially young people. In a declaration after the June 4-8 meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the ministers committed themselves to “use sport in promoting regional integration, visibility of Africa, employment creation, solidarity, peace, healthy lifestyles, and socio-economic development”. The ministers also cited the “supportive role of sport to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in African Member States,” and urged the United Nations and the international community to provide support for AU Member States in promoting sport for development and peace in Africa. The conference which was held under the leadership of AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Ms. Bience Gawanas. UN-HABITAT is using its partnerships with various youth organizations in Africa in an effort to help make cities and communities safer. |
