Media Advisory

What: Inaugural Africa-Caribbean People to People Forum.

When: July 29th, 2021 at 14:00 UTC; (16:00 CAT)

Who: Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union; the Caribbean Pan African Network (CPAN) and the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago.

Speakers:

 H.E Bankole Adeoye, AUC Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security;
 Amb. David Commissiong, Chairman, Caribbean Pan African Network;
 Kyeretwie Osei, Head of Programs, ECOSOCC;
 Dr. Hliary Browne, Program Manager, CARICOM;
 Brian Kagoro, Pan Africanist and Constitutional Lawyer.

There will be exciting cultural performances by: Mathew Tembo; Theresa Ng’ambi, Brother Valentino, The Riddim Tribe and the Defense Force of Trinidad and Tobago Steel Orchestra.

Objective: The aim of the People to People Forum is to facilitate sustained communication, interaction and to build solidarity between the people of Africa and the people of the African Diaspora, both at the level of government and civil society.

Background: The Forum is the outcome of partnership discussions between the AU-ECOSOCC and the CPAN in September 2020, during which the following areas for collaboration were identified:
 Cultural / Heritage Exchanges;
 A People to People Forum as part of the annual Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation;
 Developing /advancing African-centered content in formal Education systems in Africa and the Caribbean.
The People to People Forum, was proposed as part of the annual Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation (PAFTTCE). The PAFTTCE is an annual festival hosted by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) for the last 29 years.
A major component of the Festival is the AU/ Diaspora Forum which brings relevant stakeholders to discuss issues relating to strengthening the relationship between the AU and its Diaspora and also seeks solutions to common challenges. These fora have for many years, included the physical participation of persons from Africa including representatives of organs of the African Union and members of CPAN. It was agreed that the AU Diaspora Forum can be further developed into the People to People Forum and be institutionalized as part of the annual PAFTTCE.

The People to People Forum will provide an appropriate platform for building relationships, sustaining dialogue, closer interaction, solidarity and collaboration among governments and civil society of Africa and its Diaspora.

The People to People Forum is also being held at a time when there are ongoing efforts between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union to develop a Memorandum of Understanding towards strengthening strategic alliances and partnerships for the benefit of the people of the Caribbean and the AU.

Journalists are invited to cover and participate in the webinar on Thursday, July 29th, 2021 at 14:00 UTC; (16:00 CAT)

Please register to participate here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HLqWtfDBQD2Hopjlf4dHBA

For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Carol Jilombo | Senior Communications Officer | AU ECOSOCC Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia
E-mail : Jilomboc@africa-union.org

About ECOSOCC
The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States. The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the Union into concrete programs, as well as the evaluation of these programs.
Learn more at: https://www.auecosocc.org