MEDIA ADVISORY

2019 Africa Forum on Visual Impairment

What: The 2019 Africa Forum on Visual Impairment Opening Session.
The five-day Conference will be held under the theme: ‘To Achieve the Agenda 2063 and SDGs through Innovation, Access and Lifelong Learning’.

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

When: 7th October 2019 starting at 16:00 hrs.

Where: The Opening Ceremony will take place at the African Union Headquarters
The Africa Forum will take place from 8-11 October 2019 at the Intercontinental Addis Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Who: The 2019 Africa Forum on Visual Impairment Opening Session will be hosted by the African Union Commission Department of Social Affairs, in partnership with other stakeholders, including: The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; the African Forum Council and Perkins International Regional Office.

Why: The main aim for the 2019 Africa Forum on Visual Impairment is to bring delegates and participants from governments’, corporations, donor agencies, non-profit organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities together to share best practices and promote new assistive technologies in the field of visual impairment, as well as to facilitate the introduction of new trends, policies, models, approaches and interventions to persons with visual impairment in Africa. The 7th Africa Forum will serve as a one-of-a-kind marketplace of ideas and products for scholars, consumers, decision-makers and service providers.

Among the highlights is the recognition of the rights and participation of persons with visual impairment and other persons with disabilities in the development of Agenda 2063; Support for the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa; Network pertaining to the realization of the full benefits of inclusive education with focus on ‘no child left behind’; and promotion of advanced digitization and technological agenda for the development of persons with disabilities in Africa.

Representatives of the media, are invited to cover the event.

For media inquiries, please contact:
1. Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head, Communication Division| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: Musabayanaw@africa-union.org
2. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

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

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