Events
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January 30, 2015Working Breakfast Meeting of AUC Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, African First Ladies and Heads of State and...Press Release on Working Breakfast Meeting of AUC Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, African First Ladies and Heads of State and Government
Africa Vows: “We must win the Battle by 2020 with Zero Cases of Early Marriage!” - His Excellency, The President of Chad, Mr. Idriss Deby Itno
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 January 2015: African Union Heads of State and Government and African First Ladies on the ‘AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa’ gathered this morning for key breakfast meeting on accelerating efforts to end child marriage. The event, which was hosted by His Excellency, the President of Chad, Mr. Idriss Deby Itno and the First Lady of Chad, Mme Hinda Deby Itno, focused on mobilizing continental awareness of the campaign, build on recent achievement and make greater strides to prevent the harmful effects of child marriage in Africa
Child marriage is a social problem and a humanitarian problem according to His Excellency, the President of Chad, Mr. Idriss Deby Itno. He called upon all those concerned and especially the First Ladies of the AU Member States to be front runners in changing the continent and win the battle by 2020 with zero cases of early marriage. He stated that Africa should uphold positive values of traditional society and say “No!” to negative values such as child marriage, female genital mutilations and same sex marriages.
H.E. Mme Hinda Deby Itno the first lady of Chad admonished the practice stating that early child marriage caused early pregnancies which would lead to death. “Eliminating early marriages allows young girls to fully develop and contribute to the community”, she added. She urged heads of state and decision makers to spearhead a sensitization campaign at both national and family level to end the practice.
H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia outlined the steps that the country had undertaken to end child marriages. He noted that Ethiopia is the first country to launch the campaign to End Child Marriage at a national level followed by Niger. He underscored that the campaign requires strong political will, needs to start at the political level and called for strong political will and commitment.H.E. Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko in his opening speech said: “the campaign is set to face challenges as entrenched traditional practices and ideas embedded in the mindset of a people are hard to decay or be extracted easily. But our focus on the prospects- the prospects of a better and brighter future for the girl child, is more convincing and a greater weapon than the challenges of pulling us back into the abyss of an age old and nefarious tradition that has no future for the girl child.”
H.E. Dr. Kaloko’s speech heralded hope that the challenges should not hold the continent back, he noted: “It is our hope that countries where the practice is prevalent, would view the campaign as an opportunity to harmonize their national laws in line with regional, continental and international instruments on the rights of the child. Moreover, we hope that member states will seize the opportunity to ensure the enactment of laws against the practice as well as step up measures to punish perpetrators who find pleasure in destroying the innocence and the future of the girl child.”
Real life testimonies of victims of early child marriage were heard during the event.About AU Campaign To End Child Marriage in Africa:
The historic Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa was launched on 29 May, 2014 during the 4th AU Conference of Ministers of Social Development. The main aim of the Campaign is to accelerate and invigorate the movement to end child marriage by:
a. Supporting national policy actions in the protection and promotion of human rights, especially with a view to addressing violence against girls and women and promoting gender equitable social norms;
b. Mobilizing continental awareness of and engagement to end child marriage,
c. Supporting the removal barriers and bottlenecks to law enforcement to prosecute perpetrators of child marriage,
d. Increasing the capacity of non-state actors to undertake evidence based policy advocacy and enhancing the participation of young people through new media technologies, monitoring and evaluation among others -
January 29, 2015United Nations- African Union Commission Working Session of Stakeholders on Ebola
MEDIA ADVISORY
UNITED NATIONS- AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION WORKING SESSION OF STAKEHOLDERS ON EBOLAWhat: UN- AUC Working session of stakeholders on Ebola
When: 29 January 2015 starting at 16:00. This will be a short opening session of ten minutes so media are advised to be prompt
WHO: The welcome remarks will be delivered by the AUC Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and a representative of the United Nations Secretary General
Where: African Union Headquarters, Small Conference Room 2
Media representatives are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the UN- AUC Working session of stakeholders on Ebola at 16:00 today.
For inquiries, contact:
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.orgFor further information:
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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January 27, 2015AU to launch Foundation, and introduce Ebola Solidarity Fund
Press Release Nº11/24th AU SUMMIT
AU to launch Foundation, and introduce Ebola Solidarity Fund
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27 January 2015: The African Union (AU) will officially launch its foundation, the African Union Foundation on Friday, 30 January 2015 during the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The AU Foundation is being launched a year and half following a decision taken by the Heads of State in May 2013 to enable voluntary contributions towards the financing of priority areas of the African Union.
The launch will be taking place in the form of a roundtable discussion, attended by Heads of States and Foundation council members, who will be officially introduced.
Ahead of the launch, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said, “it is time for Africa to mobilize its own resources in support of its development and take charge of its own destiny.”
The mission of the AU Foundation is to “mobilize resources in support of the African Union’s vision of an integrated, people-centered and prosperous Africa, at peace with itself and taking its rightful place in the world.” To accomplish this mission, the Foundation will focus on five key programme areas in its first five years:
1) Skills and human resource development,
2) Women’s empowerment and gender equality,
3) Regional integration,
4) Youth development and entrepreneurship, and
5) Advocacy and support for the African Union.The Foundation will strive to engage Africa’s private sector, African citizens, communities, and leading African philanthropists to generate resources and provide valuable insight on ways in which their success can accelerate Africa’s development. The issue of domestic and alternative sources of funding has been an intrinsic element of the continent’s commitments of the Pan African values of self-determination, solidarity and self-reliance.
Alongside the launch of the AU Foundation, the Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Fund will be introduced after its inception at the AU-Private Sector Business Roundtable held on 8 November 2014.
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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January 25, 2015ASEOWA Guinea – 12 Ebola Survivors at the AU run Ebola Treatment UnitASEOWA Guinea – 12 Ebola Survivors at the AU run Ebola Treatment Unit
Sunday 25th January, 2015 – Twelve persons have been healed of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following medical care at the African Union run Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Coyah, Guinea, so far. According to ASEOWA’s Dr Dalion Muamba, a clinician deployed to Coyah, “Seven other patients have also regained their health. They were however declared non-cases because they tested negative to EVD, although they had previously shown EVD symptoms”.
On Monday, 19th January, 2015, six EVD survivors and two non-cases were discharged. It was a ceremony of sorts as state authorities, inhabitants of Coyah, the media and others, joined the families of survivors to welcome their loved ones back into the communities. It was also an opportunity to denounce stigmatisation against Ebola survivors, and incidences of reticence and denial perpetrated in some communities.
To underscore the successes registered so far, the Coyah ETU was also visited by the ASEOWA head of mission, General Dr Julius Oketta. His visit coincided with that of the ministers of health and of communication in Guinea, together with Cuba’s ambassador to Guinea.L: Cuba’s Ambassador, M: Minister of Health , R: ASEOWA Head of Mission
In addition to clinicians and nurses at the ETU, ASEOWA has deployed epidemiologists and other paramedical staff to the Coyah prefecture. According to ASEOWA’s Dr Jacques Monkange, “Together with partners, we have trained four hundred and seventeen (417) youths in community sensitisation, from all four sub-prefectures in Coyah. We have also equipped them with flip charts to inform and to educate the population using the door-to-door mobilisation strategy”. As stated by General Oketta, “EVD begins with the community and ends with the community”, so the positive involvement of everyone is important to end this epidemic.
The Coyah ETU which is jointly run by the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), Cuban experts and other partners, opened on 31st December 2014. It is also a training centre. Reiterating the AUC Chairperson, H.E. Dr N.Dlamini Zuma’s goodwill message to all ASEOWA volunteers, General Oketta hinted that discussions are ongoing to transform the ETUs into full hospitals, thereby strengthening the public health system of affected countries in the post Ebola phase.L: ASEOWA Team in Coyah R: Head of Mission poses with Clinicians about to start work
For Further Information Contact: Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Division | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | EthiopiaPaschal Chem-Langhee,
Public Information and Communication Officer,
The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA),
Conakry, Guinea.
Website: http://pages.au.int/ebola
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AUonEbola
Twitter: #AUonEbola, #UnitedAgainstEbola -
January 08, 2015African Union and Kenya Sending 170 Health Workers to Ebola Affected Countries
Press Release Nº005/2015
AFRICAN UNION AND KENYA SENDING 170 HEALTH WORKERS TO EBOLA AFFECTED COUNTRIES
Nairobi, Kenya 8 January 2015- The general consensus among African leaders who addressed the official opening of the pre deployment training of 170 Kenyan health workers today, is that through solidarity, the continent will defeat the Ebola virus disease, that has so far claimed thousands of lives, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The Kenyan contingent will be departing for the affected countries tomorrow, 9th January 2015.
The pre deployment and training workshop, held in the Kenyan capital cautiously welcomed the signs of decline in the rate of new infections in Liberia and expressed concern over the situation in Sierra Leone, which is now the most heavily affected. Calls were made for concerted efforts to rebuild health systems in Africa so that countries can cope with similar outbreaks in future. There was also a call to avoid complacency in the recovery period, which could see the infection rates going up again.
Speakers at the ceremony included Amb. Amina Mohamed, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Mr. James Macharia, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health; Amb Olawale Maiyegun, Director Social Affairs, African Union Commission; Dr De Kock of the American Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, and Dr. Khadijah Kassachoon, Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Health.
The current Ebola virus disease outbreak, which first manifest in December 2013, is still killing people particularly in the three worst affected countries. The danger posed by the disease prompted the African Union to intervene by sending skilled human resources to treat victims as well as to carry out other associated tasks such as contact tracing, burials, decontamination, surveillance, social mobilization, community health education and psycho social support. 86 Africans joined the effort as individual volunteers between September and October 2014. They were followed by 197 Nigerians, 187 Ethiopians and 82 Congolese (DRC) in December. The 170 Kenyans now under training will greatly add momentum to an African Union and international effort that is starting to show positive result. Another 115 health experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have joined the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA).
“We took the fight against Ebola to the frontline because we needed to fight it where it is. New infections are flattening out and we should soon start seeing a significant decline. We very much appreciate the solidarity shown by Africa in this fight” said Dr Maiyegun of the African Union’s Department of Social Affairs, who spoke on behalf of the Commission’s Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and its Deputy Chairperson Mr. Erastus Mwencha.
“The crisis happened in countries that were coming out of conflict and their health systems could not cope. Kenya pledged $1million to the fight against Ebola. Today we are sending 170 Kenyans to the Ebola frontline. As Africa, we are always stronger when we work together”, said Ambassador Amina Mohammed.
Dr James Macharia called the health workers heroes and offered further information on the severity of the current outbreak. “This outbreak has surpassed all other previous outbreaks put together 8 times over. The African Union has shown serious commitment and we appreciate this”, he told the health workers.
Tomorrow, 9th January, the Kenyan health workers will depart Nairobi for the affected countries after a short farewell session with national president Mr Uhuru Kenyatta. The African Union Commission’s Deputy Chairperson Mr. Erastus Mwencha will be present to witness the event as well as to sign the memorandum of understanding between the Kenyan government and the African Union.
You can support the African Union Support mission to Ebola to Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) on www.AfricaAgainstEbola.org or donate through sms on the short codes available in participating countries. Tweet and retweet: #AUonEbola. More information on ASEOWA is available on http://aseowa.au.int.
For more information on the AU response to the Ebola crisis and interview requests contact:
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | EthiopiaFollow us
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January 02, 2015ASEOWA Guinea- Over 80 Health Workers from DRC to Respond to EVD OutbreakASEOWA Guinea- Over 80 Health Workers from DRC to Respond to EVD Outbreak
Friday 2nd January, 2015 – Eighty-one health (81) workers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have arrived in Guinea to fight against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic. The team comprises medical doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, epidemiologists, humanitarian, psycho-social and communication professionals who will work directly in the Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) and in the communities across Guinea to support efforts already underway to stop the epidemic. They will also train local health workers on how to prevent and contain the Ebola virus.
This workforce from DRC which arrived in Guinea on Friday 26th December, 2014 has added to the forty three (43) health workers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and twenty-two (22) other volunteers from other parts of Africa who are already working in the country. All these groups are serving under the framework of the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) - a continental response to end the EVD epidemic in Africa.
The ASEOWA mission in Guinea which now counts almost one hundred and fifty (150) professionals took effect in early November 2014. According to the ASEOWA Head of Mission, Major General Julius Oketta, “The ASEOWA mission will deploy over one thousand (1,000) health workers to all three affected countries, namely; Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Five hundred (500) of them will be deployed in Guinea”.
According to the ASEOWA Deputy Head of Mission in Guinea, Dr Aguide Soumouk, “ASEOWA is set to handle an ETU in Coyah, together with other partners. Our staff will also be deployed to work in other ETUs and communities in the country”.
Since the occurrence of the EVD outbreak, a total of 2,743 cases have been registered in Guinea, with 1,750 deaths as at 1st January 2015. Five ETUs, four laboratories and two transit centres are functional as of this date.For more information contact
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | EthiopiaPaschal Chem-Langhee,
Public Information and Communication Officer,
The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA),
Conakry, Guinea.
Website: http://pages.au.int/ebola
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AUonEbola
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December 31, 2014
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December 20, 2014African Union health workers and the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation Discharge 35 Ebola Survivors
PRESS RELEASE
African Union health workers and the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation Discharge 35 Ebola Survivors
Bombali, Sierra Leone, 20 December 2014: The African Union (AU) together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone discharged 35 Ebola survivors from the Magbenteh Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) on 20th December. In a well-attended event that featured traditional leaders, District health leads, the Paramount Chief, the District Mayor and survivors’ family members, survivors were applauded for their bravery at beating the deadly disease. Speakers at the event gave credit to the AU for its brilliant performance in the coordination of the ETU, contributing to the number of Ebola survivors from the Bombali District.
The survivor discharge was the second of its kind from the Magbenteh ETU that was commissioned on the 16th of November 2014 and admitted its first of Ebola patients on the 24th of November 2014. On the 11th of November, the ETU discharged 24 patients adding up to a total of 64 survivors till date.
As part of the of the psychosocial support from the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA), survivors were presented survivor’s packages and counseled to be ambassadors in their various communities and help in the campaign that Ebola is treatable if cases are reported early enough and people desist from keeping sick persons at home.
The Magbenteh ETU has contributed to the reduction of Ebola death rate in the Bombali District and also increased the confidence of the community in getting treatment. As of 22nd of December 2014, Sierra Leone has recorded a total of 1326 Ebola survivors according to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
For Further Information Contact: Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Division | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | EthiopiaTemitope Famuyide, Humanitarian Affairs Officer
ASEOWA, Bombali, Sierra Leone
tpfamuyide@gmail.com +232 76796445 -
December 20, 2014Ethiopia launches Africa Against Ebola SMS fundraising Campaign using 7979 short codePRESS RELEASE Nº372/2014
ETHIOPIA LAUNCHES AFRICA AGAINST EBOLA SMS CAMPAIGN
Ethiopia using 7979 short code to raise fundsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia December 20, 2014: The African Union in collaboration with the Ethiopian Government launched the Africa Against Ebola Ethiopia SMS campaign today.
The campaign aims to involve African citizens to contribute in the fight against the epidemic and mobilise citizens across the continent to contribute in the fight against Ebola by texting “StopEbola” to the designated country code and donating. The funds raised will be used for the training and deployment of further ASEOWA personnel.
At today’s event, the African Union Commission also signed an MOU with Ethiopian telecommunications corporation as part of the resource mobilization efforts to support the ASEOWA operations in the fight against Ebola.
The Chairperson of the AUC H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in her opening remarks expressed her sincere gratitude to the Ethiopian Government and the private sector for joining the SMS campaign in the fight against Ebola. “We are especially grateful to the Government of Ethiopia because they have also sent a lot of their young women and men to the front line to work with their brothers and sisters in the three countries. Looking at the figures, Ethiopia has the biggest contingent on the ground, just above Nigeria” noted
H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. She also added that “this will encourage our partners outside Africa when they see we are taking a lead sending our young women and men, raising our own funds within our continent. It is encouraging to see that we are just not sitting here and doing noting waiting for people from outside to help and we hope that with this, we are able to make a difference in the fight against Ebola.”The Chairperson announced that the AU, under its African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, now has just under 500 health workers fighting Ebola in the most affected countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and that it expects to have 1000 soon.
Mr. Andualem Admassie, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Telecom in his speech said, “If we do not come together in coordinating and addressing the epidemic, it will not just be limited to the 3 countries it will ultimately affect all of Africa. Each and every African has to do what they can to reverse the effects of Ebola”, adding “Ethiopians and residents of Ethiopia can join the fight by contributing 5 birr by sending a text ’’StopEbola” to the short code for Ethiopia 7979”
Mr. Eyob Tolina, representing the Ethiopian private sector called upon the people of Ethiopia to take part in this campaign, and urged the business community to continue their pledge to participate in the Africa Against Ebola campaign.
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 | EthiopiaFollow us
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December 15, 2014
Ethiopian Health Workers to join ASEOWA in fight against Ebola
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15th December 2014: Nearly 200 health and clinical workers from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will to join the African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) this week. The Ethiopian team is currently undergoing pre-departure training at the African Union Commission before they are deployed to the three most affected West African countries. The opening ceremony of the pre-departure training took place today, 15th December at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Addressing the opening ceremony on behalf of the AUC Chairperson, the AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for contributing such a big number of health workers. Dr. Kaloko said Ethiopian health workers, coming from the base of African Union, will increase people’s confidence in ASEOWA and motivate the spirit of African solidarity. He said that this is the opportunity to correct doubts and show that Africa can stand together in times of need.
Dr. Kaloko also urged to the volunteers to give their best to the continent by serving their brothers and sisters in Africa who are suffering from the deadly Ebola virus which is challenging the well-being of the continent. “Remember this is also testing you, your behavior reflects the kind of activity you will be delivering; you will be representing the continent, so a lot is expected from you” said Dr. Kaloko.
The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa is deploying medical and human resource capacities in response to the Ebola Virus Outbreak in West Africa. 380 African health workers are currently on the ground in the three worst affected countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The Ethiopian health workers are being deployed as part of the African Union’s effort to deploy 1000 health workers to Ebola affected countries.For Further Information on the AU response to the Ebola outbreak contact:
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int |Addis Ababa | EthiopiaFor 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 | EthiopiaFollow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
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December 12, 2014
AU-ASEOWA MANNED ETU DISCHARGES 11 EBOLA SURVIVORS
Monrovia, Liberia 12 December 2014- The African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) medical team in charge of the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) at MOD1 in Monrovia Liberia, discharged 11 Ebola survivors.
It was a mix of emotions for the survivors and their families who were waiting to re-unite with their loved ones who have ‘passed through the valley of the shadow of death’ in the past few weeks. The survivors were each given relief kits to assist them in their new start of a new life after Ebola.
For Further Information on the AU response to the Ebola outbreak contact:
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
ToluwaniOlokeASEOWA Liberia, folaketolu@yahoo.com, +231888166806
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December 10, 2014The Republic of Niger Launches AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa
The Republic of Niger Launches AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa
Removing barriers and bottlenecks to law enforcement will help protect and promote the human rights of girls and women
Niamey, Niger, 12 December 2014 – “We have come to the realization that our determination towards a holistic approach to the rapid socio-economic development would not be achieved if we continue to under-estimate the role of our girls and women,” says His Excellency, Mr. Albade Abouba, the Minister of State for the President.
“Undoubtedly, child marriage is a harmful practice which severely affects the rights of a child and further deprives the child from attaining other aspirations like education. Niger has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Africa. The statistics is not in any way pleasant and needless for me to continue to highlight the terrible effect it has, not just on the girl child but on the entire society and our fast developing country,” he said at the occasion to mark the official launch of the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in the Republic of Niger, on 10 December, 2014, at the Hotel Gaweye in Niamey, Niger.
The Minister reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to working with the African Union Commission and other development partners in ensuring the end of child marriage in Niger through policy action in the protection and promotion of human rights – especially that of girls and women, by removing barriers and bottlenecks to law enforcement, and ensuring that girl are enrolled as well as stay in school beyond primary level.
“Changing of attitudes based on culture and traditions is not easy but with the right leadership and political will, stimulating the needed change to go beyond policies and laws, to implementation involving stakeholders at the national and community levels will see our countries redefining the narrative of what is now seemingly referred to as the backward continent,” said the AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs, in a statement read on his behalf by Amb. Olawale Maiyegun. He informed of the African Union Commission’s commitment to its Member States in realizing their development agendas.
The AU Campaign to End Child Marriage launch in Niger represents a milestone event, not just for the country but for the continent where it is projected that if nothing is done in the next decade, 14.2 million girls under 18 years will be married every year, translating into 39,000 girls married each day. If this trend continues, the number of girls under 15 giving birth is expected to rise from 2 million to 3 million by 2030, in Africa.
The event was attended by the African Union Director of Social Affairs, Amb. Olawale Maiyegun, the Mayor of Niamey, cabinet ministers, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and survivors of child marriage who shared their experiences after being married off as child brides. There were also musical performances and drama sketches on child marriage by school children.
As part of activities around the launch, the AUC Director of Social Affairs met with Her Excellency, the First Lady of Niger, Dr Malika Issoufou. Impressed that Niger was finally launching the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage, she committed that as a follow up to the launch of the campaign in Niger, the Republic of Niger will host a conference to end child marriage with experts from countries with high prevalence of child marriage, partners and other key stakeholders from the 26th to 28th of November, 2015 for experience sharing and forging a way to accelerating an end to child marriage in Africa. She mentioned her continued support as a champion of the AU CARMMA campaign and expressed her gratitude to the African Union Commission for the support to the Ebola affected countries through the African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA).
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 ###
For further information, please contact
Ms. Nena Thundu | Social Affairs | African Union Commission | Tel: 011 5518 22 80 | E-mail: THUNDUN@africa-union.org | #EndChildMarriageNow
Mr. Kenneth Oliko | Social Affairs | African Union Commission | Tel: 011 5518 22 23 |
E-mail: Kennetho@africa-union.org | #EndChildMarriageNowFor 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 | EthiopiaFollow us
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at: http://www.au.int