NEW: Pan-African Parliament wants women, youths voice at G20 summit

George Maponga in MIDRAND, South Africa

PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT (PAP) president Chief Fortune Charumbira has called for the amplification of youths and women’s voices at the forthcoming historic G20 summit to be hosted by South Africa.

The G20 brings together leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies from developed and developing countries.

South Africa, which currently occupies the forum’s rotating presidency, will host the summit in November this year.

It will become the first-ever African country to host a G20 summit.

PAP has also been actively involved in the build-up to the historic summit.

Speaking during a joint meeting between PAP and the SA Parliament in Midrand, Johannesburg, ahead of the 11th G20 parliamentary speakers’ summit (P20) to be held in SA in October, Chief Charumbira said women and youth issues should take centre stage.

He stressed the importance of ensuring inclusive development on the continent.

He also challenged African parliaments to take advantage of the hosting of the P20 summit by South Africa to make sure issues pertaining to youths and women are highlighted.

“We must take advantage of the forthcoming P20 summit, will be a precursor to the G20 summit to be held here in South Africa in November, to amplify the voice of young people and women so that we leverage on this important gathering to address some of the issues affecting those two groups of people,” he said.

“We want young people themselves to speak for themselves; we want to hear their voices as they speak for themselves, and the same applies for women, and as PAP, we want this to happen because we are direct representatives of the people.”