allafrica

Kigali — Renowned South African cleric and peace activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is expected in Kigali to attend the first regional global UNESCO Intergenerational Human Rights Forum slated for January 1, 2010.

The nine-day conference is expected to attract over 40 African and 50 youth leaders from all over the world to discuss various human rights issues and lay the groundwork for an international movement for change.

Tutu rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid culminating into a Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

The forum which will also be addressed by President Paul Kagame is organized by the University of Connecticut UNESCO Institute of Comparative Human Rights, in partnership with the Rwandan Human Rights Commission.

"We are bringing the young leaders to witness the many accomplishments that Rwanda has made within such a short period of time; from a human rights basket case, to a leader in Africa in such a short time. Rwanda has a lot to teach the rest of the world," the institute's chair, Amii Omara-Otunnu said in a statement.

Omara-Otunnu further said that the forum will enable the young participants to dissect and understand their similarities and differences so as to cultivate a global solidarity that aspires to change the world for the better.

Forum participants will discuss human rights issues affecting Africa such as conflict resolution, disability, women's rights, education, sustainability, democracy and peace-building.

"A principle reason why the Intergenerational Forum focuses on young leaders is because, more than any other group in society, their training will most likely have a great and ripple impact on society" Omara-Otunnu noted.