MEDIA ADVISORY

The African Union Compliance and Accountability Framework (AUCF) Working Session with the Military Attachés Association (MAA)

What: A working session is planned with the Military Attachés of diplomatic missions to the AU to elicit their support as key entry points to their respective embassies and capitals and to benefit from their rich military expertise and experience in peace operations around the world, including in Africa; Enhance the political buy-in and ownership of the AUCF through the active participation and contribution of defence ministries/ institutions and diplomatic missions in the project implementation at national level.  

When: The working session will start at 9:00 AM (EAT) on Tuesday 30 April 2024

Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Who: The workshop will be organized by the AU Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights  (UNOCHR).

Objective: The main objective of the working session is to solicit the political buy-in and ownership of the AUCF through the active participation and contribution of defence ministries/ institutions and diplomatic missions in the project implementation at national level.

Other specific objectives are to:

1. enhance the awareness of the MAA members about the AUCF and establish viable linkages for project implementation;
2. mobilize contributions of the military attaches to the implementation of the AUCF project by eliciting their military expertise and experiences in ensuring compliance of troops with IHRL and IHL in UN Peace operations and AU PSOs;
3. identify ways of implementing AUCF project with defense ministries/institutions of AU Member States at national level, and possible bilateral donors based on guidance and recommendations from military attaches.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Best practices and lessons learned from the military attaches’ diversified experience in dealing with issues related to compliance with IHRL and IHL in peace operations, including AU PSOs.
2. Increased awareness of military attaches of the AUCF project
3. Clear action plan highlighting the key contributions of military attaches in the project implementation in the future.
4. Informed strategy to enhance engagement with relevant AU Member States Institutions, including the Ministries of Defense and affiliated institutions.
5. Clear guidance on engagement with relevant institutions of potential bilateral donors to raise funds for the project's next phase beyond 2024

Participants:

Participants will include Members of Military Attachés Associations; Peace Support Operations Division Personnel; UNOCHR personnel.

For more information, please contact the African Union Compliance and Accountability Framework Project Management Unit (AUCF-PMU), Coordination Focal Points:

1. Mr Adebayo Kareem | Email: Kareemr@africa-union.org | Mobile:   +251929380960
2. Mr. Joseph Noubadoum | Email: noubadoum@un.org | Mobile:+251994635727

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Ms. Lulit Kebede | Communication Officer, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department | Email: lulitk@africa-union.org
2. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia I Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram| YouTube |