INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT: Open session of the AU Peace and Security Council on the implementation of the safe schools declaration in the promotion of Education for children affected by armed conflicts in Africa.

Highlights for journalists:
· Coverage of the Opening Session;
· Group photograph;
· Interview opportunities.

WHEN: Thursday, 12 March 2020
TIME: 10.00 a.m.
WHERE: Medium Conference Hall of the New Conference Center (NCC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background Information
The Thirty Third Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held from 9-10 February 2020, encouraged the Member States, with the support of the AU Commission, as well as the RECs/RMs to redouble their efforts in mainstreaming child protection in their programmes and requested the AU Commission to integrate child protection into Silencing the Guns campaign and the theme of the AU for the year 2020, which is: “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions For Africa's Development”, as well as to develop a comprehensive policy on child protection in AU peace support operations. The Assembly reiterated its call for the Chairperson of the Commission to appoint a special envoy for children in armed conflict.

Journalists are invited to attend and cover the opening session tomorrow 12 March 2020 at 10:00am

Media inquiries:

Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Tel: +251 911-630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission