The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), HE Mr Kwesi Quartey, received United Nations (UN) Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Human Security, HE Amb Yukio Takasu, at the AUC today. Amb Takasu was at the AU to participate in a two-day consultative meeting jointly organised by the AU and the UN under the theme, ‘Towards the Development of an African Human Security Index: On Practices, Methods and Designs’.

Welcoming to the AUC, HE Mr Quartey commended Amb Takasu for his exemplary leadership over the years in drawing the world’s attention to the Human Security Index, an important subject that underpins all developmental efforts. He applauded the deepening partnership between the UN and the AU and called for closer collaboration towards the achievement of Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. He opined that at the heart of the two developmental frameworks was the quest for tangible change in the welfare of the people, as was the AU theme of the year, ‘Silencing the Guns: creating Conducive Atmosphere for Africa’s development’.

The overall objective of the consultative meeting is to provide an overview of the principles of the human security approach and elaborate on the use of human security as a tool for developing effective policies and programmes for achieving Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Amb Takasu thanked the Deputy Chairperson and the AUC for their collaboration in initiating this important process of having a defined and definite scheme for Africa’s Human Security Index (AHSI). He stressed that the UN took the call of the Deputy Chairperson for the development of the AHIS seriously, and reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to the ongoing fruitful partnership with the AU.

The consultative meeting is expected among other outcomes to produce: a work plan for developing the AHSI, a framework methodology for indexing human security in Africa and selection of pilot countries.

The Deputy Chairperson proposed for consideration, inclusion the inclusion of the five Regional Economic blocs and the diaspora, which represents the sixth region of Africa.

HE Mr Quartey also proposed that outcomes of the Consultative Meeting and Piloting be discussed at this year’s UN General Assembly and the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) which is billed to take place in Africa.

For further media inquiries, please contact:

Klenam Normanyo | Senior Communication Officer| Bureau of the deputy chairperson | African Union Commission| email: NormanyoK@africa-union.org |
Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head of Information Division | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: +251911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org |
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Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube