African Heads of States and Government have declared 2016 as the African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women. The declaration of 2016 as the African Year of Human Rights provides an opportunity for Africans to consolidate the gains already made over the years, ensure better coordination of human rights bodies on the continent, and move towards the establishment of a true human rights culture on the continent. Project 2016 will mark, commemorate and celebrate the significant milestones in Africa’s continental human rights progression. It is an opportunity to give Africans the chance to tell their story – not only to raise awareness about the great work that they have been doing to uplift their communities, but also to inspire future generations to emulate innovative and exciting approaches to making a difference through human rights based approaches.

THE NILE PROJECT
The Nile Project is an organization whose mission is to inspire, inform and empower Nile Citizens to collaboratively cultivate the sustainability of their shared ecosystem. Since its founding in 2011, the Nile Project has convened 30 subject matter experts to create a blueprint for future activities; assembled a Music Collective comprised of 33 musicians from 10 Nile Basin countries; held three musical residencies resulting in the widely acclaimed album “Aswan” and the soon to be released album “Jinja;” directly engaged 60,000 people in five Nile Basin countries and across the United States through 75 concerts; held 120 Nile-themed workshops at 40 universities for over 10,000 students; and received widespread local and international press coverage through more than 150 articles.

AFRICA TOUR AND THE AFRICAN UNION
Beginning in January 2016 The Nile Project has embarked on its musicians gathering and Africa tour. As part of its tour, the Nile Project will have a concert for the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to introduce Project 2016, the Year of Human Rights with a Particular Focus on the Rights of Women, to the African Union Staff, Member States and AU Partners.
The 2016 Africa Tour aims to raise awareness, inspire audiences, and play the role of sparking a regional network of action-oriented youth working to create a sustainable and peaceful Nile Basin. At the core of our mission is regional cooperation through cross-cultural education and dialogue. A concert at the African Union represents the pan-African regional cooperation and collaboration principles that guide the work of both the Nile Project and the African Union. Using Project 2016 as an entry point, the Nile Project will perform music inspired by the belief that 1) water is a human right that when denied is especially detrimental to women and 2) the Nile Basin can sustainably and equitably provide water for all of its citizens.