Events

INVITATION TO THE MEDIA

PRESS BRIEFING OF THE NATIONAL GROUP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Within the framework of the 21st AU summit, falling within the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the OAU-AU, the National Group for Human Rights, will on Thursday, 23rd May 2013 at 12h00 hold a press briefing on the following:

- Women situation in Sudan
- Peace process in Sudan

The briefing will be held in Briefing Room 1, at the new AU Conference Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Journalists are invited to take part in the press briefing.

Contact:
Mrs Abla Mahdi Abdel Maniem
National Group for Human Rights
E-mail: ablamahdi@hotmail.com
hawasociety@hotmail.com
Cell : +251 922 72 65 67

$1M Grant to Fund Great Storytelling on Key African Issues

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 23, 2013 - A new $1 million programme of reporting grants for African journalists will be launched in Addis Ababa on Sunday May 26 during African Union 50th anniversary celebrations. The African Story Challenge will award over 100 reporting grants for stories on development issues.

The new competition will offer journalists grants to support investigative, multimedia and data-driven stories that aim to improve health and prosperity across the continent.

Journalists chosen for the grants will come together for intensive sessions to improve their project ideas. Grantees who produce the best stories published or broadcast in media that reach African audiences will win cash prizes or a major international reporting trip.

The Story Challenge is a project of the African Media Initiative (AMI), the continent’s largest association of media owners and operators. AMI content development director and Knight International Journalism Fellow Joseph Warungu is leading the project. The Knight Fellowships are administered by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).

"This new challenge will encourage journalists to experiment with new content ideas and find new ways to engage audiences through mobile technology, social media and other digital tools, “ said Warungu, a former BBC Africa Editor. “The awards will make a major difference in the number and quality of stories produced on health and development issues in Africa."

AMI Chief Executive Amadou Mahtar Ba added, “It is essential to encourage and reward African journalists and news organisations that go the extra mile to deliver high-quality digital news and information to promote transparency, accountability and a higher quality of life for our citizens. We can reboot journalism in Africa by incentivizing stories that count.”

The African Story Challenge will run in five themed cycles. Grant requests for stories focusing on agriculture and food security, the first theme, will be accepted from May 26 to June 14, 2013. Other themes will include health, business and technology.

An international panel of editors and media experts will judge the entries. Contest details are available at africanstorychallenge.com and on the websites of AMI, ICFJ and the International Journalists’ Network (IJNet).

The African Story Challenge is supported by an $800,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The programme also has support from the African Development Bank and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra).
ASC Press Release No 0010513
For more information or to request an interview, kindly contact:
Contact:

Maimouna Jallow
Senior Programme Manager, African Story Challenge
Tel: + 254 788 279 091 / mjallow@africanmediainitiative.org

Joseph Warungu
Editor, African Story Challenge
Tel: +254-722-708-370, warungu@africanmediainitiative.org

Visit: www.africanstorychallenge.org

African Union Basketball Tournament for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of OAU/AU in Ethiopia the 24th May 2013 at AUC Basketball Complex at 14:00 PM

Addis Ababa, 23 May 2013 - The African Union Basketball Club is organizing a Basketball Tournament for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU on the 24th May 2013 inside the AUC compound at 14:00 PM. The teams that agreed to come and play are Staff from Diplomatic Missions in Addis Ababa, AUC Staff and Students of the University of Debrezeit.

“We do believe that this game is and will be one of the most exciting parts of the sports activities regarding the celebration of the 50th Anniversary so we do not want to pass on it” said the President of the AUCBBC, Dr Benjamin Djoudalbaye (DSA).

The game will symbolize the opening meeting of friendly matches to be organized all along the year 2013-2014 dedicated for the 50th Anniversary to celebrate Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. These basketball teams invited will be displaying their talent and team work as a contribution to the success of this anniversary.

The AUCBBC was created in 2009 with the objectives of playing basketball under the vision of unity, peace and solidarity. Actually the Team is constituted by 25 members form AUC and other Diplomatic Missions in Addis Ababa. The AUCBBC have the training usually every Saturday at 4:00 PM.

Journalists are invited to cover the basketball match

Attached is the draft program

MEDIA ADVISORY

PRESS RELEASE: LET’S MAKE THE NEXT 50 YEARS EVEN BETTER FOR CHILDREN IN AFRICA

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

On Thursday, 23 May 2013 Save the Children is hosting a press conference to describe steps that must be taken to improve progress towards the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal (MDG4) of reducing child mortality by two-thirds. We would be delighted if you could join us.

WHEN: Thursday, 23 May 2013

The format: A press briefing to take place from 17:00hrs – 17:30hrs

Speaker: Hussein Halane, Regional Director for Save the Children International East Africa Regional Office and Head of Delegation to the AU Summit

WHERE: New AU Conference Center, Briefing Room 2, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHY: Over the last decade, Africa has doubled the rate at which it’s reduced child mortality. There are many individual stories of success, with countries such as Malawi and Rwanda, despite enormous odds, being on track to meet MDG4 by the 2015 deadline.

However that progress is still not fast enough – despite counting for only 15% of the world’s population, Africa accounts for nearly half of the world’s child deaths. At the current rate of reduction Africa won’t meet Millennium Development Goal 4. We need to redouble our efforts to meet our collective promises, and ensure that children growing up over the next fifty years are given the opportunity to meet their full

CONTACT: Franco Wandabwa
251-11-4654684/4668075
Africa Advocacy Director
Africa Area Office
Save the Children
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
fwandabwa@savechildren.org
251-11-4654684/4668075

PRESS RELEASE N. 16/ 21ST AU SUMMIT

The African Union Executive Council opens with a call for a People Centred Unionto achieve the Africa 2063 vision

Addis Abba 22 May 2013 –“We meet on the eve of the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU. Like in May 1963, the eyes of the continent and the world are focused on our activities and deliberations” Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, was speaking today, Wednesday 22 May 2013, while addressing the 23rdOrdinary Session of the Executive Council at theheadquarters of the African Union (AU), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She noted that, “like in 1963 when the founding states took their first steps into political independence, in 2013 we see Africa taking off towards peace and prosperity”.

The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Chairperson of the Executive Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, Mr. Carlos Lopes, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) ; AUC Commissioners, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, AUC staff, and the invited guests.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma expressed satisfaction at the state of preparedness of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU), which she qualifies as memorable, people-centered, global, involving the young people , the women, and the Diaspora with a view to leaving a lasting legacy. “Through these celebrations we will reclaim the African narrative, as we reflect on the past, assess our present state and plan our future” she emphasized.

Year-long Anniversary activities to galvanise, mobilise and energize

The AUC Chairperson expressed appreciation of the fact that African Member States and the different sectors in the society have taken up the clarion call to organize commemorative activities in their respective countries through the year-long anniversary celebration of the OAU - AU. Global reflection and debates are ongoing on the theme of the 21st AU Summit: Pan Africanism and African Renaissance and on the Africa 2063 vision, across the continent and the Diaspora. According to Chairperson Dlamini – Zuma, “these debates by Africans from all walks reaffirm Pan Africanism as a guide to action and the foundations for Africa’s Renaissance”. She added that, “ as we reflect on the 50th Anniversary Proclamation, we must be mindful of the inputs from our people….We must be mindful of our people’s expectations that we should emerge from this Summit – as our Founders did in 1963 – with a mission that will unite Africa and set her on the path to peace and prosperity”.

Dr. Dlamini – Zuma expressed optimism on the fact that Africa’s natural resources, its unused arable land and water, its potential for energy generation, its long coastlines rich in marine resources, to name but a few are potentials to use in achieving the 2063 agenda.

Quoting the eminent Pan Africanist, President Kwame Nkrumah in his speech to the Founding meeting in May 1963, the AUC Chairperson said “Nothing will be of avail, except the united act of a united Africa”. She explained that “as we chart the mission of our generations for the next fifty years, we must learn from the past and guard against the difficulties that President Nkrumah warned against. ( see complete speech of the AUC Chairperson on the AU website: www.au.int ).

The Chairperson of the Executive Council on his part congratulated the AU Member States for the celebration of the 50th anniversary which he said is a significan milestone and a historic occasion to honor African heroines and heros while placing Africa at the forefront of world affairs. Dr. Tedros underlined that the commemoration of the OAU-AU jubilee is important as it will chart the way for a prosperous and peaceful Africa. He hoped that this new generation of panAfricans will achieve the dreams of the founding fathers through African renaissance.

Minister Tedros called on his peers to meet at a more appropriate time and reflect on how to contribute to the agenda 2063. In this respect, he invited the Ministers for a retreat in one town called Bahidar outside of Addis Ababa where they can exchange views and produce constructive input to the vision.

Chairperson Tedros reminded the ministers on the items on their agenda including the draft Proclamation of the 50th OAU-AU anniversary to be adopted during the 21st AU Summit scheduled for 26 and 27 May 2013. (See complete speech of the AU Chairperson on the AU website: www.au.int ).

Mr. Lopes on his part stressed on the importance of the celebrations as it acknowledges the key role that the pan-African ideal played in promoting continental unity. “It meant overcoming domination and oppression by ending colonialism and apartheid in the continent. It asserted at the same time the possibility of rapid socio-economic transformation of the continent”. He said, adding that, “it was only quite logical that our forefathers and foremothers came together despite divergences in their ideological dispositions to form the Organization of African Unity”.

In concluding his statement, the ECA Executive Secretary said “just as our forefathers and foremothers laid the foundation for our dignity and freedom from oppression, we have the collective responsibility to lay a sound basis for the prosperity of present and future generations. The trends are in our favourbut we must do our part”.(See complete speech of the ECA Executive Secretary on the AU website: www.au.int ).

Ministers to Brainstorm on AU Proclamation /Agenda 2063

The Executive Council at their current ordinary session will discuss and provide a framework for the Proclamation on the 50th anniversary of the OAU-AU and the implementation of the Africa 2063 vision.
The draft Proclamation comprises inputs from civil society including the youth assembly, business forum, women, African Editors, and academicians. It frames the African Union’ s key objectives for the next five decades around the themes of African Identity and Renaissance; the Integration agenda; the agenda for Social and Economic Development and Prosperity; Peace and Security; Democratic Governance; Self-reliance and Africa’s place in the World.

According to the AUC Chairperson, in each of these areas, the Proclamation must spell out the continental mission and strategic objectives for the next fifty years in a bid to help Africa to comprehensively deal with the challenges ahead.

EAT/WM

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