MEDIA ADVISORY

What: The 3rd Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (MR&IDPS-STC) under the theme: “The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”.

Highlights for journalists:
• Coverage of the Opening Session for Ministerial Meeting on 7 November 2019;
• Group photograph;
• Interview opportunities.

When: The STC on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons will take place from 4-8 November 2019 as follows.
• Member States Experts’ Meeting: 4 – 6 November 2019
• Ministerial Meeting: 7 – 8 November 2019

Where: The opening ceremony will take place at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Who: The STC on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons will be hosted by the African Union Commission Departments of Political Affairs and Social Affairs, The meeting will be preceded by Senior Officials meeting and later on with the Ministerial session on the last two days. It is anticipated that there will be a number of side events in the meeting as well that will be related to the theme of the STC and agenda of the meeting as well.

Why: The 3rd Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons will focus on an important legal instrument that will contribute to the Migration governance within and outside the continent, progress report on the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa and the African Passport and also the establishment of the African Humanitarian Agency which will help to coordinate and manage humanitarian situations on the continent as well as on the realization of the Aspirations of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and its first 10 years implementation plan..

Objectives: The STC on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons will:
 Consider and validate the report on the implementation of the Theme of year “The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”;
 Consider and Validate the Report on the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the Roadmap for its implementation.
 Consider and decide on the Draft Structure and budget for the establishment of:
a) The African Centre for the study and Research on Migration, in Mali;
b) The African Migration Observatory, in Morocco;
c) The Continental Operational Centre for Information sharing, in Khartoum;
d) The African Humanitarian Agency.
 Consider and adopt the following:
a) On the Implementation of the Global Compact on Migration in Africa:
i. Report of the Senior Officials meeting Draft Plan of action for the implementation of Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Position.
ii. Draft Plan of Action on the implementation of Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Position in Africa.
b) On the Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFOM):
i. Reports of the 5th Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFOM) that was held in Cairo, Egypt on 14-16th September, 2019.
ii. Draft Terms of Reference of the Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFOM).

Participants: The STC meeting will bring together AU Member State Ministers and Experts in-Charge of Migration, Labour, Free Movement, Refugees and Forced Displacement Matters.

Representatives of the media are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the ministerial session on 7th November 2019 starting from 9:00am.

For media inquiries, please contact:
1. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org
2. Mr. Yusuf Mohammed | Communication Expert | Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission | E-mail: Mohammedy@africa-union.org