Pre-Symposium in Maputo mobilizes youth to discuss Democracy and Human Rights

Maputo was the stage this week for a preparatory meeting that promises to shape discussions at the region's largest academic event on inclusive governance. Promoted by the DECIDE Platform in co-organization with the University of Witwatersrand (CALS & R2P), the pre-event brought together young civil society leaders from Mozambique and South Africa for a critical analysis of democratic challenges and the protection of human rights on the continent.

With a keen eye on the future of governance in Africa, the DECIDE Platform kicked off preparations for the 4th Regional Symposium on Research, Governance and Collaborative Practices. The warm-up for the main event took place in Maputo, in a strategic partnership with the University of Witwatersrand (CALS & R2P), and featured the active participation of young professionals from Mozambican and South African civil society organizations.

During this preparatory forum, participants engaged in a frank and constructive debate on the current political landscape. In this context, both significant advances and worrying setbacks in the region's democratic processes were dissected. Simultaneously, the agenda included in-depth reflection on the main obstacles that still hinder the effective protection and promotion of human rights, with particular emphasis on the role of youth in monitoring and overseeing public policies.

As a result of this exchange rich in perspectives, valuable contributions and a set of practical recommendations were gathered. These suggestions will not remain merely on paper; on the contrary, they will serve as fundamental raw material to enrich the debates of the main symposium, scheduled for September 16-18, 2026, also in the Mozambican capital.

Under the inspiring motto "From Knowledge to Impact: Strengthening Partnerships for Inclusive Governance and Social Change," the expectation is that the September meeting will transform the ideas generated in this pre-event into concrete actions for the region. DECIDE thus reaffirms its role not only as host, but as a catalyst for building bridges between academic research and civic activism.