PRESS RELEASE Nº28/21st AU SUMMIT

1st SYMPOSIUM OF WOMEN AND CHILD RIGHTS IN AFRICA
BY SUDANESE NGO

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 May 2013: In line with the African Union Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary, the National Group for Human Rights (NGHR) held a symposium on the third floor, small conference room 3 (new building) from 11:00- 1:00pm at the African Union Commission. The NGHR congratulated the OAU in its 50th Anniversary and commended the efforts of human rights groups in the country and further hoped that in the next 50 years the union and Africa will be developed beyond expectations.
The symposium was carried out in order to stress the need and significance of women and child rights in Africa as a whole and Sudan in particular and also to shed some light on the progress and how far human rights institutions have come in terms of what they have been able to achieve in the areas concerning women and children.
Speaking at the symposium, Dr Mustapha who is a consultant, women and child defender and paediatrician at the University of Khartoum and other universities called for “a united, safe and developed Africa in the coming years” and added that improvement of the welfare of women and children is necessary for development. Dr Mustapha also added that the protection of all human beings is important, but the protection and promotion of women and children’s rights should be at the forefront. She called for equal rights everywhere and the prevention of slave trade and child slavery.
According to the Dr, Sudanese women are among the pioneers in Africa in their enjoyment of independent personality from men, in their empowerment in owning properties, conducting businesses and issuing all relevant decisions concerning their lives and they are among the few in Africa as far back as the fifties to enjoy voting rights in elections in the first free election after independence.
In her statement she added that at the African regional level, Sudan is a party to the African Union constitutive Act which was adopted in the year 2000 at the Lome summit in Togo and entered into force in 2001.
Also speaking at the symposium, Mrs Gamar Habani of the Faculty of Law at the University of Khartoum and an Advocate and Lawyer spoke on the issue of child rights. She said “The problem of child labour in Africa is still a big issue” and appealed for the end of the use of children as soldiers. She also added that the Child Right Units of the Armed Forces in Sudan aims at protecting children in peace and war settings.
The next symposium will be held on the 26th of May at the same venue.