Events & Activities

Event

26th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welf

16 November 2015

Event

ASEOWA EVALUATION WORKSHOP MAHE, SEYCHELLES 26-28 OCTOBER 2015

26 October 2015

ASEOWA EVALUATION WORKSHOP

MAHE, SEYCHELLES

26-28 OCTOBER 2015

DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE

Background

The first cases of Ebola in West Africa are believed to have occurred in December 2013, in Guinea yet with scare surveillance and laboratory capacities, it was not until three months later, on 21 March 2014, that a confirmed case was actually reported and the World Health Organization (WHO) was officially notified of the rapidly evolving EVD outbreak on 23 March 2014. By this time it had spread to neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia from Guinea. The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in parts of West Africa is the largest, longest, most severe, and most complex in the nearly four-decade history of this disease. On 8 August 2014, the WHO declared the epidemic to be a “public health emergency of international concern’’ (PHEIC).

In response to the growing humanitarian need and in the spirit of African Solidarity, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, at its 450th meeting held in Addis Ababa, on August 19, 2014 invoked Article 6 (f) of its mandate with regard to humanitarian action and disaster management and decided that “given the emergency situation caused by the Ebola outbreak, to authorize the immediate deployment of an AU-led Military and Civilian Humanitarian Mission, comprising medical doctors, nurses and other medical and paramedical personnel, as well as military personnel, as required for the effectiveness and protection of the Mission”.

The PSC mandate of ASEOWA, which was for an initial period of six months, ending 18 February 2015, has been extended twice to 31 December 2015, notwithstanding that the epidemic is contained and under control, though not completely eradicated in the three most affected countries. The PSC at its 520th meeting at which it decided to extend the mandate of ASEOWA till 31 December 2015, on the understanding that this extension of mandate does not necessarily compel ASEOWA to maintain physical presence in the three most affected countries.

At the peak of the epidemic, ASEOWA deployed to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, 855 African health workers and hundreds of local volunteers with objective of the ongoing efforts of the national and international community to stop the Ebola transmission in the affected Member States, prevent international spread and rebuild the health systems.

Accordingly, ASEOWA supported epidemiological surveillance and response, Ebola case management, psychosocial support, community engagement, capacity building and health service restoration in the three most affected countries. ASEOWA volunteers were actively involved and performed creditably in containing the epidemic. Liberia has been declared Ebola free and the transmission rate in Sierra Leone and Guinea is almost at zero and the two countries are on the verge of being declared Ebola-free. Surveillance and response capacities have vastly improved and there is a very good picture of current chains of transmission, and know how to break them. There has been enough technical capacity building within the affected countries to enable them easily detect and respond timely to all disease threat including Ebola.

Given the vast improvements in the overall situation and the approach to zero new infections, the Commission in line with ASEOWA’s CONOPs and Exit Strategy, commenced the gradual reduction in the number of volunteers in the theatre of operation from March 2015. By 30 September 2015, all the volunteers have returned leaving only the three Country’s Team leaders to wind up before the end of ASEOWA mandate on 31 December 2015.

The African Union has experience in peacemaking and peacekeeping operations but it is the first time in responding to health emergency of this nature. Overall, the ASEOWA mission has been rated as a huge success but there were challenges. What were the challenges? What were the success stories? With the exit of the ASEOWA mission, it is time take stock of the AU response to Ebola and to properly document all that transpired and the lessons learned with a view to better responding to future public health emergency of international concern and indeed, all humanitarian crisis.

Learning from ASEOWA’s creditable response to the EVD outbreak and the imperative of adequate preparations for future disasters, as well as the coming on board of the Africa CDC, the Assembly and the PSC requested the Commission to review the AU Humanitarian Policy Framework with a view to developing a comprehensive disaster management protocol and filling all existing gaps in the coordination of the Commission’s responses to disasters and emergencies consistent with Article 15 of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and other relevant instruments for submission to the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in January 2016.

It is in this context that the African Union Commission is planning to organize a three-day (3) ASEOWA Evaluation Workshop.

General and Specific Objectives:

The general objective of the post ASEOWA workshop is to evaluate the planning and execution of the mission in order to better respond to future public health emergency of international concern and indeed, all emergencies and humanitarian crisis.

Specific Objectives

1. To review the processes of ASEOWA humanitarian response mission.

2. To assess success, constraints and/or challenges encountered and solutions provided,

3. To draw lessons learned and experiences gained

4. To validate a concept note of building Africa public health volunteers roster for epidemics and emergency disease management

5. To contribute to the review of AU Humanitarian Policy Framework to capture an expanded disaster management and recommendations to improve humanitarian missions in the future.

Expected Outcome of the Meeting

• A final ASEOWA mission report

• An ASEOWA mission review report

• Validated Concept Note for Public Health Volunteers Roster

Participants

About 70 participants are expected at the Evaluation Workshop including officials of the Commission, ASEOWA Head of Mission, Deputy Heads of mission/Country Team leads; and independent Experts; as well as Partner Countries and Organizations that supported ASEOWA.

Date, Venue of Meeting and Organizational Matters

The Workshop will take place from 26-28 October 2015 in Mahe Seychelles, at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort. The AUC and ASEOWA will be responsible for the invitations and the preparations of all related documents. Translation and interpretation services in English and French, and secretarial support, will be availed by the AUC.

Documentation

• ASEOWA CONOPs

• ASEOWA M&E reports

• Field reports (Epi surveillance, IPC, Restoration, Psychosocial and humanitarian, communication and logistic reports)

• Operational interim report

• Draft Concept Note of building Africa Public Health Volunteers Roster

• Any other related documents

Contact Persons

Additional information about the ASEOWA Evaluation Workshop can be obtained from:

Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye

Senior Health Officer &

Head of ASEOWA Mission Support

Email: BenjaminD@africa-union.org

The Commission has negotiated a package with the Coral Strand Hotel comprising of full board. For confirmation of participation and information about hotel accommodation and related logistical arrangements, please contact:

Ms. Zula Afawork

Administrative Assistant

ASEOWA Secretariat

Email: ZulaA@africa-union.org

Event

AU Flag Hoisting Ceremony at the African Institute for Remittances

22 October 2015

AU FLAG HOISTING CEREMONY AT THE AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR REMITTANCES

Nairobi, 22 October 2015: - Today H.E Dr Mustapha S. Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs AUC, performed the flag hoisting ceremony to mark the Operationalization of the African Institute for Remittances (AIR) in Nairobi, Kenya. The ceremony was witnessed by a number of Senior Government Officials of the Republic of Kenya and representatives from the African Diplomatic Corp and International Organizations in Nairobi.

In his address, the Commissioner emphasized the key role the AIR will be playing in helping African countries develop proactive policies aimed at leveraging remittances for social and economic development.

H.E. Amb Ben Ogutu, Political and Diplomatic Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, representing the Cabinet Secretary, reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kenya to make available to the Institute the US$ 5 Million grant pledged by the government. Ambassador Abdoul Wahab Haidara, Ambassador of Senegal and Permanent Representative to UNEP & UN-Habitat in Nairobi, as well as the High Commissioner of Zambia H.E. Brenda Muntemba expressed their readiness to support the Institute.

Others present included the Interim Executive Director of the African Institute for Remittances, Mr. Amadou Cisse, the Project Manager Mr. Abia Udoh and the Remittance Consultant Mr. Hailu Kinfe and many other government functionaries.

It will be recalled that the African Institute for Remittances, an AU Specialized Technical Office, was officially launched in November 2014.

For further information contact

Mr Amadou Cisse/Interim Executive Director, African Institute for Remittances (AIR) / Tel:+254706208576/E-mail: amadou_cisse@yahoo.fr/ Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr Abia Udoh/Project Manager, AIR/ Tel:+254703907668/ Email:dadsharon@yahoo.com/ Nairobi, Kenya.

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Event

The Republic of Mali launches the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa

16 October 2015

Marriage in Africa

Bamako, Mali, 11th October 2015. Under the title campaign “Education for girls, a means to eliminating early child marriage”, the Republic of Mali launched on 11 October 2015 its national campaign to end child marriage in the village of Konobougou, 160 kilometers away from the capital Bamako. The campaign was spearheaded by, Mrs Maiga Aminata Keita, First lady of the Republic of Mali.

In her introductory remarks, First Lady Keita emphasized on retention of girls in school and the important role that education plays in strengthening the abilities and personalities of these little girls that embody the future of Mali. The First Lady expressed her commitment to eradicate school dropout rates for girls and her full engagement also in the fight against child marriage which undermines the socio-economic development of the country.

On behalf of the African Union Commission, the AU Special Rapporteur on Ending Child Marriage in Africa, Ms. Fatema Sebaa Delladge congratulated the Government of the Republic of Mali for taking the bold step to launch the campaign and called on all stakeholders to ensure the success of the campaign by harmonizing all laws that speak to the age of consent and ensuring that that are in line with that of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which sets the age of marriage at 18 years. She also called for the adoption of a national strategy to monitor and evaluate the campaign at the deferent levels of government. “These would greatly help to eradicate child marriage and demonstrate the commitment of the Government of Mali in promoting and safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children in Mali."

The launch event witnessed a march around Konobougou with musical slogans condemning any sort of violations against Malian girl child’s human right to education and prosperity. The call for child marriages to be eliminated was followed by drama performances played by young children – depicting social attitude towards the retention of girls in schools.

About the AU campaign to end child marriage in Africa

The campaign was launched at continental level in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 29th, 2014 during the Conference of Ministers of Social Development. It is aimed at ending child marriage by: (i) support legal and political actions in the protection and promotion of human rights, (ii) increased awareness of the continental socio-economic impact of negative child marriage, (iii) strengthening of social movements and social mobilization to peoples and national level; and (iv) an increase in the capacity of non-state actors to undertake advocacy policies based on evidence including youth leadership role among others through new media technologies, monitoring and evaluation.

KO/NT/EAT

Media contact:

Ms. Nena Thundu;THUNDUN@africa-union.org

Kenneth Oliko;Kennetho@africa-union.org

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For more information, please contact:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Event

The Republic of Mali launches the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa

16 October 2015

Marriage in Africa

About the AU campaign to end child marriage in Africa

KO/NT/EAT

Media contact:

Ms. Nena Thundu;THUNDUN@africa-union.org

Kenneth Oliko;Kennetho@africa-union.org

pages.au.int/cecm| www.facebook.com/OurGirlsAfrika| www.twitter.com/ourgirlsau

For more information, please contact:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Event

West and Central Africa Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Ending Child Marr

13 October 2015

PRESS RELEASE Nº 275/2015

West and Central Africa Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Ending Child Marriage and other Harmful Traditional Practices in Africa,ends in Abuja, Nigeria.

Abuja, Nigeria, 09 October 2015–A five-day capacity building workshop for African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities and Civil Society Organizations from West and Central Africa and focusing on ending child marriages and other harmful traditional practices ended today in Abuja, Nigeria.

The workshop which held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja was organised by the African Union Commission and UNICEF under theme; "Ending Child Marriage and Other Harmful Traditional Practices in Africa - Mechanisms and Strategies". Other facilitators were drawn from UNFPA, the Inter-African Committee, the African Child Policy Forum and Girls not Brides.

The workshop focused on providing an understanding of child marriage and other harmful traditional practices within the broad framework of social development linking it to the key goals and outcomes of the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, AU’s Agenda 2063 and the sustainable development goals. More specifically, it provided a holistic view of harmful traditional practices programme (HTP), explicitly evidence based design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.

On behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Ezekiel Oyemomi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women affirmed the urgency and need for all stakeholders to join forces in ending all harmful practices affecting girls, women and hindering the development of Africa. He emphasized that most girls forced into marriages are coerced and their consent are not sought.

Dr BolanleAdetoun, the Principal Programme Officer - Gender at the ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, in her welcome address noted that practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriages primarily stem from illiteracy and poverty and all must work together to eradicate them. She pointed out that this training was timely for child protection in the region and that the ECOWAS is at the forefront of this human rights and developmental issue. She reiterated the commission’s commitment to the intervention for victims of child marriage by way of scholarships, capital to create economic value and education about gender equality and women rights amongst others.

The UNICEF Representative for Nigeria, Ms Jean Gough affirmed Africa's leadership role in setting the minimum age for marriage at 18 years in 1990 in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, noting that this was a standard that the UN Member States, just one year before, had failed to agree on when negotiating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. "Africa therefore led the way in setting the standard for ending child marriage". Ms Gough closed the workshop by charging all participants to translate the learning into action and work collectively in ending all forms of violence against children.

Speaking on the essence of the workshop, the African Union Commission Director for Social Affairs, Ambassador Olawale Maiyegun stated that a key component of the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa is to enhance the capacity of Member States Experts, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in dealing with the harmful practice of child marriage, thus making them suitable or better equipped to design and manage development plans in which social and economic policies and strategies are fully interfaced to deliver the kinds of transformative outcomes desired in ending child marriage and other harmful traditional practices affecting children in Africa.

Child Marriage has negative effects on the girl, her family, the nation and the whole world and large. These girls are also exposed to a number of health disadvantages such as the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS, the risk of cervical cancer, pregnancy and child bearing complications and even death. These and other effects as well as how to better work towards ending them is what the series of regional based workshops seeks to address.

About the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa

The campaign was launched at the continental level in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 29 May 2014, during the Conference of Ministers of Social Development. It aims at ending child marriage by: (i) supporting legal and policy actions in the protection and promotion of human rights, (ii) mobilizing continental awareness of the negative socio-economic impact of child marriage, (iii) building social movement and social mobilization at the grassroots and national levels; and (iv) increasing the capacity of non-state actors to undertake evidence based policy advocacy including the role of youth leadership through new media technology, monitoring and evaluation among others.

End ###

Media contact

Ms. Nena Thundu; THUNDUN@africa-union.org

Mr. Kenneth Oliko; Kennetho@africa-union.org

www.pages.au.int/cecm| www.facebook.com/OurGirlsAfrika| www.twitter.com/ourgirlsau

For further information, please contact:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Directorate of Information and Communication

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Event

Ambassadors briefed on Africa’s health policy direction Pledge to support the

5 October 2015

Ambassadors briefed on Africa’s health policy direction Pledge to support the 2016 Global Fund Replenishment efforts

Washington, D.C., October 5, 2015 – African Union Ambassadors meeting Friday were briefed on the progress in the implementation of AU health policy frameworks that are due to expire at the end of December and the next steps in achieving universal health access. The meeting comes in less than a week after world leaders meeting in New York adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that supersede the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The ambitious goals will address the unfinished business of health related MDGs and lay a solid foundation to put the world on a path to sustainable development and end poverty within an ambitious 15 years’ timeframe.

“Sustaining health and education gains is key in our collective efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals” said H.E. Daouda Diabate, Ambassador of the Republic of Cote D’Ivoire to the United States of America.

Goal three of the SDGs seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. Ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by 2030 is one of the key priorities of the SDGs.

“The international community has made remarkable progress since 2000 to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and tens of millions of lives have been saved. However the global community needs to continue to invest in lifesaving health programmes,” said President of the Friends of the Global Fund US, Deb Derrick. “Countries should remain committed to growing domestic health budgets in a time of limited international development resources,” she added.

African Union Ambassadors pledged to advocate for the current efforts to have a fully funded Global Fund in the 2016 replenishment cycle. Close to 70% of the Global Fund resources support programmes in Africa. The AU representatives were briefed on the ongoing review of the Abuja Call and the AU Roadmap highlighting the critical milestones, remaining challenges and emerging issues in addressing health on the continent.

In less than a decade access to HIV treatment in Africa increased more than 100-fold. Approximately 10 million people are now on treatment. New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in Africa south of the Sahara declined by 33% and 30% respectively. Malaria incidence was reduced by 31% in Africa. An estimated 337 million malaria cases and 3 million deaths were averted in Africa. Malaria mortality rates have declined by 54% overall and by 58% among children. Africa’s TB treatment success rate reached 86% in 2013. In 2013 the case detection rate had slightly improved at 52%. Africa outpaced other regions in determining the HIV status of all people with TB.

However Africa still confronts the world’s most acute public health threats. AIDS remains a leading cause of death in Africa, killing 1.1 million people on the continent in 2013, with an estimated 1.5 million new HIV infections. An African child still dies almost every minute from malaria. The TB response will need to reach about 1.3 million people in Africa.

The meeting also provided a briefing on the recent Ebola pandemic that has brought to the fore the need for improved surveillance, international coordination and response, as well as the consequences of poorly- resourced national health systems. The African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) deployed the biggest contingent of medical and public health experts (855) from 18 countries on the continent. To be better prepared for epidemics in the future the January 2015, 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU in Addis Ababa endorsed the establishment of the Africa CDC. The Africa CDC will serve as a specialised technical institution of the African Union with a vision for a safer, healthier, integrated and prosperous Africa in which Member States can prevent disease, detect, and respond together to crises of public health importance. The Africa CDC will establish early warning and response surveillance platforms to address in a timely and effective manner all health emergencies and support public health emergency preparedness and response.

About the African Union:

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/.

About AIDS Watch Africa:

Created at the Abuja 2001 Special Summit, AWA is an Africa-led instrument to stimulate leaders into action and mobilize the resources needed to address AIDS, TB and Malaria in an effective, sustainable and accountable manner. Learn more at www.aidswatchafrica.org

About Friends of the Global Fight:

Friends of the Global Fight works to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We educate, engage and mobilize U.S. decision makers to support the Global Fund, the world’s largest public health financier. Learn more at www.theglobalfight.org.

About the Global Fund:

The Global Fund is a 21st-century partnership organization designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. Founded in 2002, the Global Fund is a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the diseases. The Global Fund raises and invests nearly $4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in countries and communities most in need. Learn more at www.theglobalfund.org/en.

For further information contact:

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Directorate of Information and Communication

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Event

Meeting of Regional Economic Communities in Preparation for the Africa-EU Summit

16 September 2015

16-18 September 2015: Meeting of Regional Economic Communities in Preparation for the Africa-EU Summit on Migration, Accra, Ghana

Event

The African Union and HelpAge urge member states to promote the rights of older

10 September 2015

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

The African Union and HelpAge urge member states to promote the rights of older people in Africa

Addis Ababa,10 September 2015:The African Union Commission (AUC) and HelpAge International have urged African Union Member States to develop and implement policies that protect the rights of older people in Africa.This was during a roundtable meeting on the Role of older persons in achieving Africa’s agenda 2063which took placetoday 10 September 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the members of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and other key stakeholders.

The Chairperson of the PRC, H.E Albert RanganaiChimbindi, reiterated the willingness of the African Union to guarantee that the developmental approach of the Africa’s Agenda 2063 is inclusive. He recognised that older people are the custodians of the African culture and therefore, deserve that Africa creates conditions for their contribution to the achievement of the objectives of Agenda 2063. He also highlighted that to address the issue of older people in Africa is also a window of opportunity for the continent to better plan the future of the younger generation.

The Director of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission Ambassador OlawaleMaiyegun informed member states that the population of older people in Africa is increasing drastically and therefore there is an urgent need to ensure that specific measures are in place to address the needs of older people.

Ambassador Maiyegunsaid that although the African Union is making efforts to address ageing issues by setting up frameworks and legal instruments including the AU Policy Framework on Plan of Action on Ageing (AUPFAA), the Africa’s Agenda 2063, the African Common Position on Post 2015 sustainable development (AU, 2014) and the recently approved Protocol on the Rights of Older People; more needs to be done to implement these instruments at the national levels. He also called upon the PRC representatives to encourage their respective States to manage proactively the adoption and ratification process of the approved Protocol.

Thecall to African governments in Addis Ababa follows the release of Global AgeWatch Index 2015 report by HelpAge International whose main aim is to raise visibility of ageing at regional and national levels as well as provide a framework for governments and institutions to respond to ageing population and the UN Secretary General call for Data Revolution.

The Global AgeWatch Index 2015 notes that older women and men in Africa experience economic and social hardships with the majority unable to access basic services. It reviews 13 different indicators for the four key domains of Income security, Health status, Capability, and Enabling environment. Due to lack of relevant data, only 11 African countries are included in the Global Age Watch Index out of the total 93.

The countries are Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and United Republic of Tanzania.

“The big story this year in the Index, is that millions of older people are invisible, living their lives in countries where information on the quality of older age is missing from international data sets,” said Toby Porter, Chief Executive of HelpAge International. He added that poverty rates in old age are missing from international data sets in at least 93 countries. “It’s particularly shocking in Africa where there was only enough data available to include 11 out of 54 countries,” he said.

According to Dr Prafulla Mishra, Regional Director, HelpAge International, East, West and Central Africa, there is increased recognition of the ageing population and the challenge it poses for the inclusive and sustainable development in Africa. He welcomed the approved Protocol on the Rights of older people andurged the African Union to make use of the Global AgeWatch Index as yet another important tool to use to generate data and plan for older persons.

Mr.Sola Mahoney, HelpAge International Trustee emphasisedthat older men and women of Africa continue to live miserable lives of poverty and lack basic human rights needs including access to a secure income, shelter and food. Without a well-established social security strategy, older people’s right to live dignified lives will be impossible to achieve. “Older people play a critical role in many aspects of Africa’s economic and social development”, notedMr.Sola.

Furthermore, Mr.Sola challenged governments to put systems in place that facilitate inter-generational exchange of knowledge and skills and for the two generations to work together and realize Agenda 2063. “We need to be careful that we should not focus all our efforts in taking care of the youth at the expense of the other generations. We should strive to ensure that we leave no one behind,” Sola said.

The roundtable took place in the context of the implementation of the Agenda 2063 aiming to eradicate poverty in one generation and build shared prosperity through social and economic transformation of the Continent. The first of the seven aspirations of the new continental development framework calls for “a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development”. More specifically,it intends, among others,to provide social security and protection for older persons on the continent.

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Notes to the Editors

• The African population is expected to rise drastically from about 1.1billion in 2013 to at least 2.4 billion in 2030 (UNDESA, 2013), making Africa the world’s continent with highest population growth and characterized by high numbers of youth.

• In 2014, about 40 per cent of the population was under 15, and nearly 70 per cent was under 30. Similarly, the increase of the number of older people will also be experienced.

• Currently Africa has approximately 60 million people aged 60 years and above; by 2030, there will be 103 million older women and men in Africa.

• In Sub Saharan Africa, the population of older people is projected to increase four folds from 36.6 to 141 million between 2005 and 2050 . Similar to other developing countries, the majority of the older people in Africa will be living in rural areas and older women will outnumber men by virtue of their longer life expectancy.

• The African Union Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Social development, labour and employment recently adopted the Africa Protocol on the Rights of Older people. The Protocol is expected to be adopted by African Heads of States in January 2016.

For more information contact:

NenaThundu Policy Officer,Social Affairs Department, African Union Commission, Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00, Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44, E-mail: THUNDUN@africa-union.org

Jamillah Mwanjisi, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, HelpAge International, EWCA +254720043823 Email: Jamillah.mwanjisi@helpage.org Skype: JamillahMwanjisi

Erna Mentesnot Hintz, Communications Officer, HelpAgeInternational, Ethiopia, Tel +251 (0)116 189 512, cell +251 (911)487785 email: erna.hintz@helpage.org Skype: erna.mentesnot.hintz

For further information contact:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Event

Course on Ending Child Marriage and Harmful Traditional Practices in Africa- Mec

7 September 2015

Course on Ending Child Marriage and Harmful Traditional Practices in Africa- Mechanisms And Strategies

Event

African Union Regional Capacity Building Training On Ending Child Marriage and o

7 September 2015

African Union Regional Capacity Building Training On Ending Child Marriage and other Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs)

7 – 11 Sept. 2015 | Lusaka, Zambia

Event

Lusaka Hosts Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Capacity Building Workshop on

7 September 2015

Lusaka Hosts Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Ending Child Marriage and other Harmful Traditional Practices in Africa

Lusaka, Zambia, 07 September 2015–A five-day workshop to build the capacity of African Union Member States to end Child Marriage kicked off today Monday 7 September 2015 in Lusaka, Zambia.

The workshop organised by African Union Commission in conjunction with UNFPA, UNICEF, Inter-African Committee and the African Child Policy Forum, under theme; "Ending Child Marriage and other harmful traditional practices in Africa - Mechanisms and Strategies, is being attended by experts from Regional Economic Communities, Member States and regional based Civil Society Organizations.

The workshop will feature among others theoretical presentations on the linkages of harmful traditional practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, the role of stakeholders and the effect of traditional and religious practices of child marriage on Africa’s socio-economic development.

In his welcome remarks, the Zambian Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Dr Joseph Katema M.P., expressed appreciation for the commitment shown by the African Union Member States towards the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, noting that 'as concerned Africans, we are obliged to ensure that girls remain girls, not brides and enjoy their childhood manifested in education, play, good health and participation in social and cultural endeavors that are appropriate and relevant to their development'. The Minister charged all workshop participants to maximize the opportunity in coming up mechanisms and strategies that will reflect the noble cause of ending child marriage and other harmful traditional practices within the broader agenda of safe-guarding the life of children, especially the girl child.

On behalf of the African Union Commission, Dr Johan Strijdom thanked the Government of Zambia for accepting to host the Regional Capacity Building Workshop stating that 'the Republic of Zambia offers evidence toward the

Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission

commitment of African governments in ensuring that resolutions are instituted nationally as well as at a community level'. In a contemporary culture, where social volatility is a common occurrence, child marriage has become a dominant subject for debate. There needs to be continuous efforts to discover new directions in eradicating the practice and enhancing the prospects grounded in gender and development. Dr Strijdom affirmed that, “Girls and women have the right to live free from violence and discrimination and achieve their potential but are prevented due to being forced into child marriage.”

A key component of the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa is to enhance the capacity of Member States Experts, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) in dealing with the harmful practice of child marriage, thus making them suitable or better equipped to design and manage development plans in which social and economic policies and strategies are fully interfaced to deliver the kinds of transformative outcomes desired in ending child marriage and other harmful traditional practices affecting children in Africa.

Media contact

Ms. Nena Thundu; THUNDUN@africa-union.org

Mr. Kenneth Oliko; Kennetho@africa-union.org

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