Events

Press Release Nº 156/2015

Office of the Legal Counsel coordinate joint African Union Commission – Loyola University Chicago training workshop on intellectual property rights in Africa.

Addis Ababa, 10 July 2015 - Professor Vincent O. Nmehielle, The Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission received Professors Giulio C. Zanetti and Laurent Manderieux at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa on Monday, 6th July, 2015 for a week long training workshop titled ‘Intellectual Property in Practice: a Focus on Africa.’

The workshop was designed pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the African Union Commission and Loyola University Chicago towards capacity building within the African Union (AU), its organs, Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

The training workshop on Intellectual Property (IP) was specially designed to provide its participants with, among others, a hands-on approach to the various IP rights that are relevant for African countries, including trademarks; patents and access to lifesaving drugs; copyrights; industrial designs; traditional knowledge and cultural heritage

The training workshop was conducted under the following schedule:

On day one of the workshop, Professor Nmehielle welcomed the experts from Loyola University Chicago and gave participants a broad overview of what they are to expect from the programme. Prof. Giulio C. Zanetti commenced with an introduction to intellectual property (IP) including the types of IP rights, with specific focus on trademarks.

Day two continued with the module on trademarks with a focus on geographical indications and well-known marks, as well as the various protection routes.

On day three, both Prof. Zanetti and Prof. Manderieux jointly delivered the module on patents and access to pharmaceutical products, with specific discussions on how African countries can gain access to lifesaving drugs registered as patents, using compulsory licensing.

On day four, the workshop focused on industrial design as an IP right – its characteristics, applicability and the various ways that Africans can protect their creativity and design. The other half of the day focused on traditional knowledge as an IP right and the importance of protecting African traditional knowledge from exploitation by multinational corporations in developed countries.

Day five marked the final day of the training workshop and commenced with a broad overview of copyright delivered by Prof. Manderieux, including the notion, functions, exceptions and limitations of copyright and the modes of protection of African literal, artistic and musical works.

At the end of the workshop, participants were asked to complete a self-assessment questionnaire on the knowledge acquired from the training as well as an evaluation of the training instructors.

Generally, participants were able to:

1. Describe the strategic and commercial importance of intellectual property (IP) in today’s economy and in particular, its impact on African countries;

2. Identify the various fields of IP and when they are applicable;

3. List the main characteristics of IP and the exclusive rights conferred by each type of IP and apply the main principles of the provisions concerned;

4. Indicate the main routes through which protection of IP rights may be obtained and the main registration systems;

5. Link their IP knowledge with the existing policies of the African Union.

At the closing ceremony on Friday, 10 July 2015, the Legal Counsel thanked Loyola University Chicago for organizing the workshop and commented on the growing relationship between the AUC and the University. He also gave a special acknowledgement to the consulting experts for a job well-done in delivering the training and congratulated the participants for successful completion. He once again highlighted the importance of IPR for the growing Africa continent, most especially in the areas of trade and industry, social affairs and pharmaceutical.

Finally, the Participants were presented with a certificate for successful completion of training workshop.

Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission

Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

The deadline has been extended to 5 May 2015

Addis Ababa – 2 April 2015: the African Union and the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish a partnership with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of both parties in their efforts to promote democracy, good governance, human and peoples’ rights, constitutionalism, fair and free elections and rule of law in Africa.
Under the MOU the Commission and CCJA shall cooperate closely and undertake joint actions and activities to implement the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the 2002 African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and other relevant instruments.

Professor Vincent Nmehielle, the AU Legal Counsel and Professor Theodore Holo, President of the Constitutional Court of Benin and President of CCJA, signed the MOU on 2 April 2015 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the presence of Mr. Naïm Akibou Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Benin to the African Union, a Representative of the Permanent Mission of Algeria to the AU, Mr. Calixte Mbari representing the Department of Political Affairs and other Officials of the Commission.

Under the terms of the MOU, the overall objective of the Partnership shall be to strengthen the institutional ties between the Commission, through the Office of the Legal Counsel and the Department of Political Affairs as well as other relevant Departments of the Commission, and CCJA in the field of democracy, good governance, human and peoples’ rights, constitutionalism, fair and free elections and rule of law.

The objectives of the Partnership shall be achieved through:

Ø Granting CCJA an observer’s status to the AU, as an organization made up of institutions of Member States of the AU;

Ø Regular consultations between the Commission and CCJA on policies and procedures;

Ø Joint training programmes and workshops;

Ø Development and implementation of joint projects in the areas covered by this MoU.

The theme for the Second Edition of the AUCIL forum was: “Law of Regional Integration in Africa”.

MEDIA ADVISORY

AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS TO HEAR APPLICATION 005/2013 ALEX THOMAS V UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA 3-4 DECEMBER 2014 AT AFRICAN UNION HEADQUARTERS IN ADDIS ABABA Application 005/2013- Alex Thomas v Tanzania on 3-4 December, 2014AFRICAN UNION HEADQUARTERS, ADDIS ABABA

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Arusha, Tanzania 1st December, 2014: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will hear an application 005/2013 in the matter of Alex Thomas v United Republic of Tanzania at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The hearing will be held at the Nelson Mandela Hall, African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa. The hearings will be live streamed via http://www.livestream.com/afchpr.
The hearing begins at 10:00 am prompt. Journalists interested to cover the events are kindly requested to confirm their participation to Mr S.Chhatbar, Senior Information and Communication Officer schatbar@african-court.org and skchhatbar@yahoo.com, no later than 2nd December, 2014 noon.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. As at October 2014, the Court had received 33 applications on contentious matters and 8 requests for advisory opinion. The Court has disposed of 24 contentious matters and has 9 pending, while it has disposed of 4 requests for advisory and 4 are pending.
2. The Court is composed of 11 judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The Court meets 4 times a year in Ordinary Sessions.
Further information on the Court can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org.