Events

MEDIA INVITATION

Press Conference: Africa’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment through Ending Child Marriage

As the African Union adopts its common position on ending child marriage, come learn more about child marriage and women’s empowerment in Africa, including progress made to date, success stories and next steps.

Who: A distinguished line up of panellists, including countries, NGOs and organisations that are leading social change on ending child marriage and women’s empowerment:

• H.E Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, African Union Commissioner for
• Social Affairs
• H.E Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi
• Ms.Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women
• Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, African Union Goodwill Ambassador
for Ending Child Marriage, and General Secretary, World YWCA

What: Press conference and Q&A
When: Sunday, 14 June 2015, at 16:30
Where: Sandton Convention Centre, Media Briefing Room, -2 Floor

For more information, please contact:
• African Union - Wynne Musabayana. musabayanaW@african-union.org
• UN Women – Monika Bihlmaier. Monika.bihlmaier@unwomen.org
• World YWCA – Gladys Yegon. Gladys.yegon@worldywca.org

Date: Vendredi 12 Juin 2015
Heure: 10:00-10:30
Lieu: Sandton Convention Center, Media Briefing Room (-2 floor)
Le Consortium de Sensibilisation sur les Chambres africaines extraordinaires
En collaboration avec
La Direction de l’information et de la Communication de la Commission de l’Union africaine
En 2006, l’Union africaine a demandé au Sénégal de juger Hissein Habré “au nom de l’Afrique”.
Ce 20 Juillet 2015, démarrera le procès à Dakar. L’ancien président du Tchad (1982 - 1990) est poursuivi pour crimes de guerre, crimes contre l’humanité et actes de torture.
Panélistes:
- Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, Conseiller juridique de l’Union africaine,
Président du Comité de pilotage
- Dr. Abdou Khadre LO, Directeur General de Primum Africa Consulting,
Chef de file du Consortium de Sensibilisation sur les Chambres africaines extraordinaires
Modératrice:
Mme Habiba El Mejri Scheikh, Directrice de l’Information et de la Communication de la Commission de l’Union africaine

Jun.14.2015 - Jun.15.2015 MEDIA ADVISORY/25th AU SUMMIT

Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union

What: Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union

When: 14-15 June 2015
The official opening ceremony will be held on 14th June starting at 11:30am
Highlights for media on the 14th will include:
• Welcome remarks by H.E. Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa
• H.E. Mr. Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairman of the African Union, declares the beginning of the Session
• AU Anthem by a South African Choir
• Statement by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union
• Statement by H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee
• Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairman of the African Union
• Statements by the newly elected and Outgoing Heads of State and Government )N.B.: list to be confirmed)
• A group photo opportunity will be available immediately after the opening ceremony

Highlights for the 15th June will include
• A press conference by the Chairperson of the Union and the Chairperson of the Commission will take place immediately after the closing ceremony of the Assembly session

Who: The Assembly will be attended by Heads of State and Government (or their representatives) of the 54 AU member states

Where: The Pavillion. 5th Floor. Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Objectives: The Assembly will discuss the theme of the summit i.e. Year of Women Empowerment and Development Towards Agenda 2063. The Heads of State and Government will adopt the budget of the AU, consider the report of the ministerial retreat on the first ten year implementation plan of Agenda 2063, consider the report of the ad hoc ministerial committee on the scale of assessment, and discuss the issue of integration with a focus on free movement of people, goods and services.
Other reports to be considered by the Heads of State and Government during their meeting will include:
• Report of the AU Commission on the Ebola Crisis
• Report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, including Terrorism, Radical Extremism and Africa’s Response
• Governance (with focus on African Governance Architecture and Elections)
• Report of the Commission on the Situation in Middle East and Palestine

The Assembly will appoint 6 members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) and 3 members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

After discussing some issues raised by member states, the leaders will proceed to adopt the decisions and recommendations of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council before adopting the decisions and declarations of the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

On the 15th of June, a final press conference will be held soon after the closing ceremony of the summit. All media personnel are invited to the press conference.

Media contact:
Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Communication and Information 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

Join the conversation on the 25th AU Summit following our hashtags #25thAUSummit, #women4agenda2063.

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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What: High Level Panel on Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

When: 12 June 2015

Who: The Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)

Where: Sandton Conviention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Objectives: The High Level Panel aims to reinvigorate the mobilization of AU Member States to implement the commitments made through various instruments such as the Maputo protocol, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality, UNSC 1325 and hence transform the lives of Women and girls on the continent and catalyze their contribution to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Africa.
Specific Objectives: The specific objectives include:
- Identify and Mobilize Champions on WPS Agenda;
- Strengthen commitment to solutions;
- Mobilize support for continental Framework;
- Develop partnerships for WPS agenda in Africa;
Expected Outcome:
- Raised awareness on the issues of women, peace and security in Africa;
- Share best practices to stimulate wider actions on WPS agenda;
- Commitment to strengthen capacity through the creation of WPS regional Centres of excellence on the continent by 2020;
- North-South University partnership for training, research and service to community on WPS;

Participants: The High level Panel will be attended by High Ranking Personalities from AU Member States, AUC, UK, UN, International Organisations, Private Sector, Media, Women’s Groups, and universities.

o A specific session will be dedicated to the Youth at the University of Pretoria on the role of women in peace building.

Background:
The African Union has declared the Year 2015 as “Year for Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”. In stakeholders’ consultations held on the margins of the 24th Ordinary Session of Assembly of Heads of States and Governments of the African Union, participants noted that the implementation of existing gender equality and women’s empowerment instruments has been painfully slow and that despite considerable progress, women and girls continue to bear the brunt of conflicts in Africa and to be marginalized in processes to build peaceful societies. Hence, there is a need to shift to action and move into an acceleration gear so as to achieve a transformational change for women and girls in Africa. Participants identified six key areas of priority that need to be focused on towards that endeavor. These are the following:
- Transform Agriculture through the mechanization of women’s work to reduce burden and increase productivity, income and autonomy;
- Economic empowerment through financial inclusion;
- Education;
- Health;
- Peace and Security;
- Political participation;
Within the Peace and Security Priority, action need to be focused from now onwards on ensuring that women are at the Peace table to silence the guns on the continent. This would entail the recognition and amplification of the role of women in early warning mechanisms to prevent violence, promote gender equality at the peace table and invest in centers of excellence to build a critical mass of peace builders across the continent.
It is in this perspective that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission HE Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will convene a High Level Panel on women, Peace and Security Agenda on the margins of the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union scheduled for June 2015 in the Republic of South Africa.

Media representatives are invited to cover the meeting.

Media contact:
Esther Azaa Tankou | Head of Information Division| Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: +251911361185 | E-mail: Yamboue@africa-union.org

Join the conversation on the 25th AU Summit following our hashtags #25thAUSummit, #women4agenda2063.

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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