Side event consultation on the 2024 AU ECOSOCC Citizens Forum

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July 17, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: Side event consultation on the 2024 AU ECOSOCC Citizens Forum

Theme: ‘The Role of Faith Leaders in Promoting Democracy and Institutional Resilience’

When: 17^th July 2024

Where: Best Western Hotel, Airport – Accra, Ghana

Time: 09:00. am. – 12: 15 pm. (GMT)

Who: The Side Event is convened jointly by the African Union Citizens and Directorate, All African Conference of Churches and World Council of Churches.

Purpose

The side event aims to address the complexities and explore strategies to harness the positive influence faith leaders for democratic advancement.

Specific Objectives

To explore the potential of faith leaders as agents of positive change in promoting democracy and institutional resilience in Africa
To foster dialogue on the role of faith-based organisation in supporting democratic governance and social development
To identify challenges and opportunities for collaboration between faith leaders, civil society and policymakers in strengthening democratic institutions
To develop recommendations for AU and Member States on harnessing positive contributions of faith leaders for a more democratic and peaceful Africa.

Expected Outcomes

The side event is expected to generate a fruitful dialogue on the role of faith leaders in promoting democracy and institutional resilience. The discussions will contribute to the

development of actionable recommendations for AU and member states to leverage the

positive influence of faith leaders for a more democratic and peaceful Africa

Participants

The side event will bring together representatives from faith-based organizations across Africa, civil society leaders working on democracy and governance issues, Policymakers from AU member states, development partners, academics and researchers

Background:

Founded in 1963, the All Africa Conference of Churches is a continental ecumenical body that accounts for over 200 million Christians across the continent. AACC is the largest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Indigenous churches in Africa and is a member of the worldwide ecumenical network. AACC is a fellowship of 210 members comprising of Churches, National Councils of Churches (NCCs), theological and lay training institutions and other Christian organizations in 43 countries.

AACC Liaison office to the African Union amplifies the voices of Churches and Civil Society at the African Union level. The Liaison office to the African Union is currently implementing a 3-year project (Salama Hub Phase Two) “Transforming Lives in the East and Horn of Africa Region through Evidence-based advocacy by campaigning for peaceful change”. This project intends to bring together Faith Based organizations, Civil society institutions, Human rights institutions to advocate for peace and stability in the region.

The Civil Society and Diaspora Directorate (AUC-CIDO) within the African Union Commission founded the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum (AU-IFDF) in 2010 to promote interreligious dialogue to build peace and enhance social cohesion in Africa.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of 352-member churches in more that 120 countries and territories throughout the world, gathered with a goal to pursue Christian unity and the unity of humankind. WCC has a long history of engagement for human rights, disarmament, climate action, gender equality, anti-racism and peacebuilding around the world with current peacebuilding focuses and activities in among others, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, DRC, Colombia, Ukraine-Russia, West Papua (Indonesia), the Korean Peninsula, Iraq, Syria, Israel & Palestine.

The event will be streamed live so please join in the conversation by joining us via zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/92170229306?pwd=MT7iSg9BIRMhYGdpEJPTlXFcvDl6VC.1

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. Hazel Maureen Danetta Dixon I Regional Desk Officer I Citizens and Diaspora Directorate I African Union Commission I Email: dixonh@africa-union.org

Ms. Mahlet Abreham I Program Executive I Liaison Office All Africa Conference of Churches I Addis Ababa I Email: mahaletabreham@aacc-ceta.org I+251 113 85 1158

For media inquiries and interviews please contact:
Mr. Molalet TsedekeI Communication Officer I Information and Communication Directorate I African Union Commission I Email: Molalett@africa-union.org I Addis Ababa, Ethiopia