New York, USA – 23 September 2015: The African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has arrived in New York, heading an AU Commission delegation to attend the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which will be taking place in New York, USA, at the end of September 2015.

UN Member States are converging in New York to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Organisation during which they will also deliberate on key development issues, such as the launching of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, being the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission and her delegation, comprising the Deputy Chairperson, Commissioners and other Senior Officials will among other engagements, participate in various high level meetings with Heads of State and Government of the African continent and the world to present and discuss Africa’s Agenda 2063 in light of the SDGs.

During these meetings, Dr Dlamini Zuma will underscore Africa’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s development framework’s link to the global agenda. “The Post-2015 Development Agenda is intrinsically linked to Agenda 2063, the African 50-year vision. One cannot be attained without the other. Successful implementation of Agenda 2063 will give impetus for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.” Dr Dlamini Zuma said prior to her arrival in New York.

The AU Commission has been actively engaged in the negotiations leading to the design of the new Post-2015 Development Agenda and securing a Common African Position on the issue. During her address, Dr. Dlamini Zuma will underline priority projects in the first ten year implementation plan of Agenda 2063, which priorities include reduction of poverty, overcoming gender-based barriers to women and girls’, education and economic revolution in Africa, sustainable consumption and production as well as climate change.

The AUC’s delegation will partake in a number of side events organized by the AU Commission and Partners, such as Heads of State and Government Dialogue on the Africa Urban Agenda; UN Women-led session on “Transforming Economies: Empowering Women and Girls”; discussions on Maritime Security and Safety in the Implementation of the post-2015 Development Agenda; Open-ended Ministerial Committee on the International Criminal Court and an Africa-Japan meeting on 2016 TICAD.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma will also attend a number of bilateral meetings with various partners of the AU to exchange views and perspectives on current continental and global issues of critical importance.

Apart from commemorating the 70th anniversary of the UN, member states will listen to an address by His Holiness Pope Francis. It will also be the first time that world leaders commit to common actions and undertakings on such a universal policy agenda.

Media Queries contact:
Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission Tel: +1 646 546 7776 E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org
Bushy Sekhu, Communications Officer, Bureau of the Chairperson, African Union Commission; +251 926 773 226 or +27 84 245 1574; E-mail: SekhuB@africa-union.org AND sekhub@gmail.com
Jacob Enoh Eben, Spokesperson of the Chairperson, African Union Commission; +1 202 751 8517 E-mail EnohebenJ@africa-union.org