Memorial Wall honouring African heroes and heroines unveiled at Africa Day Celebrations
Africa Day which commemorates the creation of Africa’s continental organisation was celebrated on May 25th in various AU offices on the continent and in the diaspora. At the headquarters in Addis Ababa, the celebrations featured the inauguration of the AU Memorial Wall in honour of the fallen gallant heroes and heroines of Africa for their contributions to the African Union’s Peace Support Operations (ranging from peace building to enforcement) as mandated by the AU’s Peace and Security Council.The memorial wall will immortalise the continent’s heroes and heroines for future generations to know.
ACHPR holds public consultation on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa
Cognisant of the advent of the internet and the impact of evolving technology on information, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is undertaking consultations aimed at revising the existing Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa (2002) and updating with the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa The revised Declaration addresses issues such as Non-Interference with Freedom of Opinion, Non-Discrimination, Right of Access to Information Online, Evolving Capacities of Children, Media Diversity and Pluralism, Media Independence, Safety of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners. As part of the consultative process, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa invites all state and non-state stakeholders to forward their inputs on the draft Declaration, by close of business on 01 July 2019.
Students graduate from Decent Rural Jobs Project of the AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
On 28 May in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 92 students who participated in the Decent Rural Jobs Project run by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) graduated, after receiving training and mentorship in agribusiness and entrepreneurship. The Decent Rural Jobs Project aims at promoting employment in the agricultural sector by equipping rural youth with skills to engage in entrepreneurship along agriculture and agribusiness value chains. The project which is also being implemented in Benin, Malawi and Niger is supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Food Safety Agenda gains momentum with support for the Africa Food Safety Index
Food safety experts from across the continent have renewed their commitments to ensure Africa is on track in its transformation of the agricultural sector to improve livelihoods, production capacities and boost economic growth for member states. In a meeting organised by the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture members of the food safety community, predominantly, focal points of National Committees on Codex Alimentarius in AU member states committed to support the Africa Food Safety Index (AFSI), which is an information and data gathering tool on food safety. The AU will work with member states to build capacities for integration of AFSI into the biennial reports used to assess how member countries are implementing activities to promote agricultural growth and targets set in the Agenda 2063 continental framework on agriculture, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
Stolen Futures – 33,000 African Children Express Their Views On Corruption
In a recent study published by the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, 33,000 children from across the continent voice their concerns about corruption and the impact it has on them. Corrupt practices especially within the services sector are cited as hindering provision and access to good quality health and education. The report also looks at the issue of illicit financial flows and how these impact investment by governments in sectors that would promote the social development of children. The report titled Stolen Futures: The impact of corruption on children in Africa was the result of a study carried by the African Union’s African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare (ACERWC) and the AU Advisory Board on Corruption in partnership with Plan International, UNICEF, Save the Children International, World Vision International, African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), ChildFund International and SOS Children’s Village International.
Pan-African Parliament resolves to promote awareness and protection of the rights of people with albinism
During the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Fifth Legislature of the Pan Africa-Parliament (PAP) which concluded on 17 May 2019 in Midrand, South Africa the Parliament reaffirmed its decision ...
AU Peace and Security Council addresses Cyber Security and mitigating threats posed to Peace and Security in Africa
At its 850th meeting held on 20 May 2019, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union addressed the rapidly changing face of ICT and the risk posed by extremist ...
