Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 28 January 2016: The Secretary General (SG) of the African Union Commission (AUC), Ms. Djeneba Diarra, briefed the press on the preparations of the 26th AU Summit Heads of State and Government, under the theme: “2016: African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women.”

Ms Djeneba presented the mandate of the Secretary General of the Commission focusing on the coordination role with the view to ensure that all the departments and institutions of the AU concerned by the Summit fully contribute to the organisation of this important event. “Basically the office of the SG coordinates all activities within the Commission to facilitate all the events and activities organised by the Commission and ensure that they are carried out successfully”, underlined Ms. Djenaba. She pointed out the importance given by the AU Commission on issues of women empowerment in Africa. “The theme of the year 2015 was women’s empowerment and this year 2016, the theme on human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women will compliment the efforts of the Commission to bring African women into the limelight for a transformative change and development in the continent”, noted the SG of the Commission. She added that, “we all understand the significant role women play in our society especially in the implementation of our Agenda 2063 and in the same vein our youths are going to be central in achieving Agenda 2063”. To that effect, the SG of the Commission announced that, harnessing the demographic dividend in Africa towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and AU Agenda 2063 will surely feature as theme for the coming year 2017, with special preference and consideration to youth development in the continent.

Ms. Djenaba noted that, one of the highlights of 2015 was the adoption of Agenda 2063, and that the Commission is currently working on several transformation reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the Organisation.

She highlighted some of the major issues on the agenda of the Summit including the issue of peace and security in the continent, the consideration of the different reports of the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) meetings held over the last six months,

including the issue on migration, refugees and displaced persons.

The reports on the activities of the AU Commission and that of AU Organs such as the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR); the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR); the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC); the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); and the African Union Advisory Board on the Fight against Corruption (AUABC) will also be considered during the Summit. She added that, the Summit Decisions and Declarations will be adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the AU.

HB/EAT

Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the Summit should submit their requests to Mrs Esther AzaaTankou, Ag. Director of Information and Communication of the AUC, via E-mail: YambouE@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com

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For further information:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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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