Events
-
January 30, 2014Press briefing of Deputy Chairperson of the AUCINVITATION TO THE MEDIA
PRESS BRIEFING OF DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE AUC
Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC will, on Thursday, 30 January 2014 at 15:00 hold a press briefing on the following issue:
- Institutional Capacity Building
The briefing will be held in Small Conference Hall 4, at the new AU
Conference Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke
Media Center Coordinator
Directorate of Information and Communication AU Commission
Tel: +251911630631
E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org
For further information contact
Directorate of information and communication /African union commission/ E- mail:dinfo@africa- union.org/Web site: www.au.int/ Addis Ababa / Ethiopia
Follow us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Africanunioncommision Twitter: https://twitter.com/Africanunion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUcommision
Learn more at:
http://summits.au.int/en/22ndsummit -
January 30, 2014Press briefing of the African Court and African CommissionPRESS BRIEFING OF THE AFRICAN COURT AND AFRICAN COMMISSION
Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, African Court and African Commission, will on Thursday, 30 January 2014 at16:30 hold a briefing on the following issue:
- Relationship between the two institutions
- Development since the last summit
- The recent cases handled by the court
During the press conference the following panelists will address the media:
- Hon. Justice Sophia A. B. Akuffo, President of the Court
- Hon. Justice Bernard M Ngoepe, Vice President of the Court
- Hon. Justice Ben Kioko, Member of the Court
- Hon. Commissioner Zainabou Sylvie Kayitesi
The briefing will be held in Briefing room 1, at the new AU Conference Center, in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing
Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke
Media Center Coordinator
Directorate of Information and Communication AU Commission
Tel: +251911630631
E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org
For further information contact
Directorate of information and communication /African union commission/ E- mail:dinfo@africa- union.org/Web site: www.au.int/ Addis Ababa / Ethiopia
Follow us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Africanunioncommision Twitter: https://twitter.com/Africanunion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUcommision
Learn more at:
http://summits.au.int/en/22ndsummit
Attachments -
January 30, 2014African Youth Forum: “Accelerate Youth Employment in Africa”
PRESS RELEASE N0. 27/ 22nd AU SUMMIT
African Youth Forum: “Accelerate Youth Employment in Africa”
The Department of the Human Resource Science and Technology in collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) organized a Youth Forum on accelerating Youth Employment in Africa on the sidelines of the 22nd African Union Summit on 29 and 30 January in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
After debating on the theme during the meeting held in United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Wednesday 29th January 2014, the invited African youth and the former Nigerian President Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, discussed and presented the recommendations to the Heads of States during a luncheon held at the African Union Commission today, 30th January 2014.
The lunch was hosted by Dr. NkosazanaDlaminiZuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Mr. Obasanjowho is the founder and chairman of the OOF. Heads of States of African member states of the AU; among themwere the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;the President of Burkina Faso (Host country of the AU special Summit on Employment in 2004), President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Chairperson of the African Union and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The event was moderated and led by Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST). The participants discussed the recommendations made by the youths and on the way forward.
“The Heads of States have heard you and I am sure that they will dialogue with you”, said Dr. NkosazanaDlaminiZuma. She added, “We want you to be the masters of the digital age, the masters of the space age, the masters of the knowledge age, and the masters of the economy age”. She encouraged the youth to input their ideas into what should Africa look like in 2063 before April 2014, through the Agenda 2063 framework.
Although African countries have seen tremendous economic growth over the recent years, youth unemployment and education are still pressing issues that need to be addressed by policy makers and African leaders. As President Obasanjo said “Education is the basis for the empowerment of the youth.”
The President of Haiti, Mr. Michel Martelly, shared the Haitian experience regarding alternative funding for education with his peers and the invited guests. He explained the ways in which the Haitian government raised funds from its Diaspora to fund the construction of schools. “131Million Dollars were raised and the entire fund was used to build schools” he said.
Mr. DessalegneHailemariam, strongly commended the youth not to wait for governments to help them. “You must struggle for your rights and you should have a strong African organization to engage with politicians”. He then added “as leaders we have to lead the process and engage the youth in the building of a prosperous Africa”.
The event concluded with a message that will be disseminated by the youth. The message included the will to participate actively in reduction of poverty, creating a strong pan African organization and reinforcing leadership of the youth with the assistance of governments at a national and continental level.
HM/wzmFor further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | EthiopiaFollow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
January 30, 2014Seven African Countries Lead the Continent in Malaria Control Annual awards – bestowed at the AU – highlight how Africa...
30 January, 2014 Contact: Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Saleemah@alma2015.org
+251 939 643 193
SEVEN AFRICAN COUNTRIES LEAD THE CONTINENT IN MALARIA CONTROL
Annual awards – bestowed at the AU – highlight how Africa’s future
is inextricably tied to progress in defeating malaria
Today during the official opening of the African Union Summit of heads of state, H.E. Armando Guebuza, President of Mozambique, conferred the 2014 African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) Awards for Excellence in Vector Control to Cape Verde, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe,and Swaziland. Each country has demonstrated exemplary leadership in maintaining at least 95% coverage year round of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) and/or Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) interventions, the most important tools in preventing malaria.
Malaria is a leading cause of child deaths and kills 627,000 people every year, most in Africa. The continent has made tremendous progress in the delivery and use of life-saving tools in the fight against malaria, including LLINs, IRS, rapid diagnostic tests, and effective treatments, including preventative care during pregnancy.Yet malaria continues to wreak a huge toll on Africa. It burdens already fragile health systems; it is a leading cause of absenteeism in schools; it negatively impacts agricultural productivity and businesses large and small when employees and entrepreneurs are kept from their work; and it robs African countries of at least USD $12billion every year in economic potential.
“We cannot lose ground in our struggle to end preventable deaths and suffering from malaria” said President Guebuza, who serves as Chair of ALMA. “Our people and our communities are counting on us to continue to scale proveninterventions to insure that no African loses their livelihood or life to this ancient disease.”
Last month, the World Malaria Report declared that as a result of significant scaling-up of malaria control interventions, an estimated 3.1 million lives have been saved in Africa since 2000, reducing malaria mortality rates by 49%. And while funding challenges remain, resources for malaria prevention globally have grown from $100 million in 2000 to an estimated $1.9 billion in 2013. ALMA’s current Chair, H. E. President Guebuza of Mozambique, has rallied his peers and partners to increase malaria funding so that we sustain these impressive gains.ALMA was founded by H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania to create a platform for Africa’s presidents and prime ministers to accelerate action on malaria prevention and control. ALMA’s second chair, H.E. President Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia, continued to promote performance and accountability through the innovative ALMA Scorecard for Accountability and Action. Winners of ALMA’s Awards for Excellence are selected by an independent committee representing the World Health Organization (WHO), Roll Back Malaria (RBM), the private sector, civil society and academia. For more information about ALMA and for a profile of the progress shown by the seven winning countries, please visit www.alma2015.org.
-
January 29, 2014
INVITATION TO THE MEDIA
PRESS BRIEFING OF H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AUC Chairperson
Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of AU Commission will, on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 at16:00 hold a press briefing on the following issues:
- The Africa we want in 2063
- The theme of 22nd AU summitThe press briefing will be held in Small Conference Hall 4, at the new AU Conference Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing
Media Contact
Mr. MolaletTsedeke
Media Center Coordinator
Directorate of Information and Communication
AU Commission
Tel:+251911630631
E-mail: molalett@africa-union.orgFor further information contact
Directorate of information and communication /African union commission/ E- mail:dinfo@africa-union.org/Web site: www.au.int/ Addis Ababa / Ethiopia
Follow us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Africanunioncommision
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Africanunion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUcommisionLearn more at:
http://summits.au.int/en/22ndsummit -
January 29, 2014The launch of the Global Monitoring Report (GMR): Education for all
-
January 29, 2014
INVITATION TO THE MEDIA
PRESS BRIEFING COMMISSIONER FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, H.E. Dr. Mustapha S. Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs, at the AU Commission will, on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 at 11:30 hold a press briefing on the following issues:
- Labour, employment, mobility and migration;
- NutritionThe press briefing will be held in Briefing Room1, at the new AU Conference Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing
Media contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke
Media Center Coordinator
Directorate of Information and Communication
AU Commission
Tel:+251911630631
E-mail: molalett@africa-union.orgFor further information contact
Directorate of information and communication /African union commission/ E- mail: dinfo@africa-union.org /Web site: www.au.int / Addis Ababa / Ethiopia
Follow us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Africanunioncommision
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Africanunion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUcommisionLearn more at:
http://summits.au.int/en/22ndsummit -
January 29, 2014Pre-Press Briefing on the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI) to be convened “Africa helping Africa”
-
January 29, 2014
MEDIA ADVISORY
NEPAD Heads of State Summit
WHAT: Media is invited to attend the official opening of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) Summit.
DATE: Wednesday January 29, 2014
TIME: 09:00
WHERE: Medium Conference Hall – Ground Floor of in the new AU
BACKGROUND: Twenty African leaders who make up the membership of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee - HSGOC will meet I n the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa ahead of the AU Summit. The HSGOC provides leadership to the NEPAD process and sets policies, priorities and the programmes of action.
There will be media briefing after the HSGOC Summit by NEPAD’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki outside the hall of the HSGOC meeting
For Badges for the HSGOC and media interview please contact:
Maureen Nkandu – Head of NEPAD Communications in Room G09 on the ground floor
Phone: +251 927348384
Email: maureenn@nepad.org -
January 29, 2014“Africa needs internal solutions to internal social issues”, says Commissioner Kaloko
Press Release Nº21/22nd AU SUMMIT
“Africa needs internal solutions to internal social issues”, says Commissioner Kaloko
Addis Ababa, 29 January 2014- Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union, Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko has spoken extensively on the need for the African Union member states to recognize and address the linkages of social issues, such as human and child trafficking, migration and malnutrition. Speaking at a press conference at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa today, he noted that African states had already taken the initial steps towards defining and implementing comprehensive labour laws, citing the 2004 Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment.
However, whilst addressing the challenges in the formal economy is a necessary measure, he said, it was imperative for governments to look more closely at the informal economies across the continent, as between 80% and 90% of the continent’s working population operates informally. Those individuals who work in the informal sectors are far more vulnerable to unfair labour practices and are more likely to contribute to inter-linked trends such as undocumented migration, which leave them vulnerable to exploitation. He underlined the need for a holistic approach and commended the African Union and its member states for moving towards inclusive problem-solving mechanisms which involve all stakeholders affected by social issues.
Later on this year, African states will be re-visiting the Ouagadougou Declaration to re-assess its frameworks and implementation, and to re-affirm their commitment to sustainable labour practices, he said.
Speaking on the linkages of the social issues affecting many of the continent’s nations, Dr Kaloko emphasized that an internally-based approach was needed in order for Africa to find sustainable solutions. Governance is a key success factor in the design and implementation of national policies to tackle such issues as human trafficking and child labour, said Dr Kaloko and he was encouraged by the constantly improving state of the continent’s governance systems.
Also key in the Commissioner’s press conference was the issue of malnutrition on the African continent. Dr Kaloko noted that a larger percentage of the African population is malnourished today than was the case 20 years ago. He underlined the cost of hunger on the continent by pointing out, that malnourished children underperform in school, leading to them not attaining jobs or underperforming at their jobs in the future. The cost to national GDPs caused by these lost workers is high, and one which Africa can scarcely afford.
In concluding, Dr. Kaloko re-emphasised that the member states of the African Union must continue to move towards an integrated and comprehensive approach to tackling the continent’s social issues. In a few years, he said, Africa’s population will reach the 1 billion mark and it is imperative to make sure that every one of the continent’s citizens has the opportunity for education and decent employment.
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | EthiopiaFollow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
January 29, 2014
MEDIA ADVISORY
AFRICAN UNION AND IFRC LAUNCH OF THE WORLD DISASTER REPORT
“Technology and the Future of Humanitarian Aid”29 January, 2014, AUC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Department of Political Affairs in collaboration with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will be organizing a Launch of the World Disaster Report.
Date Wednesday, 29 January, 2014
Time 10:00 – 12:00 noon, followed by cocktail reception
Venue Small Conference 3, New Conference Centre, AUC, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Background Ninety per cent of lives saved after disasters are saved by local people, but in much of the world these ‘first responders’ have little or no access to life-saving information and technologies such as early warning systems and mobile phones. New technologies offer many opportunities, but access to technology is deeply unequal. This lack of access has a major impact on people’s ability to prepare for, survive and recover from disasters.
Purpose Bridging the digital divide is critical for the scale and quality of the future of humanitarian action: humanitarian organizations, governments and the private sector must invest in building this bridge. This joint launch reinforces the call to action for governments to take decisive steps in addressing the digital divide in Africa.JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT
Contact Information
Katherine Mueller/IFRC Communications Manager, Africa /+251 930 03 3413 / katherine.mueller@ifrc.org
Tankou Azza Esther | Information and Communication Directorate | AUC | (251) 11 551 77 00 | YambouE@africa-union.orgThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 mil¬lion people each year through its 189 member National Societies. Together, the IFRC acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. For more information, please visit www.ifrc.org
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@africa-union.org I Web Site www.au.int I Addis Ababa | EthiopiaFollow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
January 29, 2014
MEDIA ADVISORY
Closing ceremony of Executive Council of the African Union
WHAT: Closing ceremony of Executive Council of the African Union
WHEN: Today, 29 January 2014. The final session of the Executive Council is scheduled for 5pm to 7pm and the closing ceremony will take place immediately after that.
WHERE: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Journalists are invited to cover the closing ceremony of Executive Council of the African Union which will take place immediately after the final session that is starting at 5 pm.
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | EthiopiaFollow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int