MEDIA ADVISORY
African Union Theme of the Year
“Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”

WHAT: Consultative Meeting on the Popularization of African Union Theme of the year
WHO The Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission located under the Bureau of the Chairperson
WHEN: 5-6 August, 2019

WHERE: Casablanca,Morocco

TIME : 9 AM

WHY: In the framework of the long-term vision encapsulated in Agenda 2063, the African Union’s (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted a Common African Position on Humanitarian Effectiveness (CAP) and called for a ten – year period of transformation to strengthen humanitarian action on the continent to define Africa’s new humanitarian architecture, which includes the creation of the African Humanitarian Agency as a vehicle for Africa’s humanitarian action. The new humanitarian architecture addresses root causes to achieve durable solutions, as well as bolster the capacity of States and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges of forced displacement on the continent. Hence, AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union’s adoption Decision AU/Dec.707(XXXI) of 2019 as “the Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa” in July 2018, at Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Against this backdrop, came the need to organize awareness – raising activities among a viable stakeholders on the continent, to popularize the theme of the year through the sharing of “good practice” between the AU and Civil Society Organisations through a meeting.

OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING
- Bring stakeholders and up to date with their counterparts by sharing information and identifying areas of support, through networking
- To develop a coordination mechanism among stakeholders in to strengthen communication and enhance mutual collaboration and cooperation in the popularization of the theme of the year

PARTICIPANTS :
The number of participants will range from 30 to and not exceeding 60 attendees. The composition of participants will include:
• 45 CSO’s from ECOSOCC; Diaspora and the wider civil society;
• Representatives of Regional Economic communities (RECS)
• Civil Societies in Morocco
• Staff of the AUC
Journalists are invited to cover the event.

The draft concept and programme are also attached:

For media enquires contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, +2519113611, e-mail yamboue@africaunion.org

Mr.Stephen Kwaku Darko| Information and Communications Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Tel: +251(0) 953406832 | E-mail: DarkoS@africa-union.org
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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