Au weekly march 17th 2015

...keeping you updated March 17th, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS General Events 

Journalist Database Management System (JDMS) Launched

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China Ambassador to the AU presents credentials

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Citizenship & Governance: Oxfam Delegation briefed by the African Union Commission

Peace and Security 

Enhancing AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC) cooperation

Others 

Mbeki Meets Nigerian Stakeholders Ahead of Elections

Social Justice 

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2nd International Youth Conference on African Diplomacy African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) 36th Session to Adopt Reports African Union Celebrated the 7th Africa Healthy Lifestyle

Understanding the AU 

Directorate of Communication and Information

Upcoming Events Gender Justice 

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AUC Chairperson Acknowledges Women’s Fight for Rights in Africa Africa’s Young Women & Girls in Leadership 59th Session of UN – Commission on Status of Women (CSW)

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18th COMESA Summit 11th CAADP Partnership Platform Women in Parliaments summit Regional Consultation towards the 3rd International Conference on FFD The 8th Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee Africa Climate Resilient Infrastructure Summit (ACRIS)

Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union

AU-Weekly Published by Oxfam Liaison Office to the AU

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AU WEEKLY

General Events China Ambassador to the AU presents credentials

Credit: AUC

Newly appointed China Ambassador to the AU, H.E. Mr. Kuang Weilin, presented his letter of credence to the AUC Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini Zuma on March 13th 2015. China is the second country after the US to establish a dedicated mission and appoint an Ambassador to the African Union. In January 2015, China signed an MoU with the AU on the margins of the 24th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government. The MoU will allow the construction of railways, airways, highways and industralisation to accelerate Africa’s integration within the framework of Agenda 2063.

Further reading: http://cpauc.au.int/en/content/ credentials-presentation-newly-appointedchina-ambassador-au-and-media-briefing

Journalist Database Management System (JDMS) Launched Citizenship & Governance: Oxfam Delegation briefed by the African Union On Monday 9th March 2015, the African Union Commission (AUC) through the Directorate of Commission Information and Communication (DIC) launched its Journalist Database Management System (JDMS) http://media.au.int, intended to help in keeping profiles of Journalists who communicates with the African Union Commission.

This centralized data collection system will introduce specific and a more efficient way of notifying events and distributing periodic as well as extraordinary publications to member journalists and other partners. Prospective members; Journalist/media are required to fill and submit the form online through the link: http://media.au.int/index.php/registration.

The African Union Commission (AUC) organised a guided tour of the AU for an Oxfam delegation, comprising of staff from across the confederation working on Citizenship & Governance. The AU briefed the delegates on its policies and work on citizens' participation at the continental level and on conflict prevention, through the Continental Early Warning System tools of the Peace and Security Situation Room. The visit to the AU was part of the launch of Oxfam's Knowledge Hub on Governance & Active Citizenship and the Confederation’s global learning event on the issue, held in Addis Ababa. 54 Oxfam staff across affiliates from 30 countries operating in 4 continents participated in this programme.

Further reading: http://www.au.int/en/ For Further Reading: http://www.au.int/en/ content/african-union-commission-launchescontent/oxfam-international-officials-visit-africanjournalist-database-management-system-jdms union-headquarters

Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union

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Social Justice African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) 36th Session to Adopt Reports

Credit: AUC

2nd International Youth Conference on African Diplomacy Organized by the AUC Department of Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST) and the African Model United Nations (Afro-MUN), the African Model United Nations International Youth Conference was convened on March 5th 2015 at the African Union (AU) under the theme: “African Diplomacy on multiple fronts”. Participants involved university students from different African countries.

The event provided an opportunity for upcoming youth leaders to deliberate on issues pertinent to Africa and its future and enabled young people to understand high level decision making processes that would enable them to explore concrete solutions to the overarching challenges on the continent.

Further reading: http://hrst.au.int/en/content/2nd -africa-model-united-nations-international-youthconference-opens-african-union-headqua-0

The 36th Ordinary Session of AfCHPR opened on March 9th 2015 and will run till March 27th 2015 in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania. During this session, Judges, will adopt reports of the previous two Ordinary Sessions and deliberate on applications before the Court. There will be visits to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and briefings on the Residual Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT).

Further reading: www.african-court.org. http://www.au.int/en/content/african-courthuman-and-peoples-rights-begins-36thordinary-session-arusha-9-march-2015

African Union Celebrated the 7th Africa Healthy Lifestyle In collaboration with the Department of Social Affairs and other stakeholders, the African Union Medical Services Directorate commemorated the 7th Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day on March 12, 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the theme “Tobacco-free environment start with you”. This event called for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases through awareness raising and communication activities.

The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Erastus Mwencha in his opening remark emphasized the necessity for Africa to protect human resources.

Further reading: http://sa.au.int/en/content/ african-union-celebrates-7th-africa-healthylifestyle-day-under-theme-%E2%80% 9Ctobacco-free-environm

Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union

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Gender Justice Africa’s Young Women & Girls in Leadership

Credit: AUC

In cooperation with the African Union and other partners, the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) on the occasion of the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women on March 11th 2015, in New York, organized a HighLevel Side Event on the theme: “Ensuring the Emerging Leadership of Africa’s Young Women & Girls Towards Agenda 2063’’.

The purpose of this event was to reach concrete recommendations on how the African Union and United Nations (UN) can address the priorities of young African women and girls in the AU Agenda.

AUC Chairperson Acknowledges Further reading: http://wgd.au.int/en/content/ Women’s Fight for Rights in Africa side-event-high-level-interactive-dialogueThe International Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated globally on March 8th 2015 to highlight the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in realizing women's rights. The African Union commemorated this day under the theme "Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063."

H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma AUC Chairperson during the event praised women for their fight for rights throughout the past centuries. She also emphasize the need to highlight the economic, political and social achievements of women worldwide as well as challenges faced in recognizing and protecting women’s rights.

She called for effective joint and determined efforts by all stakeholders in implementing the theme with focus on women's health, Quality education, Peace and security, Agriculture and Economic empowerment of women Further reading: http://cpauc.au.int/en/ content/statement-dr-nkosazana-dlaminizuma-chairperson-african-union-commissionoccasion-celebratio

towards-continental-results-framework-womenpeace

59th Session of UN – Commission on Status on Women (CSW) The United Nations has convened the 59th Session of the Commission on Status of Women (CSW) in New York from March 9th -20th. This brought key actors in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) to enhance the achievement of gender equality outcomes in Africa through the adoption and implementation of the priorities related to the 2015 Themes. The African Union Commission (AUC) will use this platform to deliver on the work of the African Union and its achievement on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. These meetings are spring boards for an Action Plan to implement the AU 2015’s Theme and the Addis Ababa Declaration on Accelerating the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action by the AU Member states.

Further Reading: http://wgd.au.int/en/sites/ default/files/CONCEPT%20NOTE%2004%20FEB% 202015rev2final06%2003%202015.pdf

Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union 4

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Peace and Security Justice

Credit: AUC

Enhancing AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC) cooperation The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Convened their 9th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting on March 12, 2015 at the AU Head Quarters. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. Anne Mutelo, Permanent Representative of Namibia to the AU, and H.E. Mr. Francois Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations.

Tabled for discussion were; the peace and security situations in the Great Lakes Region, the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali and the Sahel, Libya, South Sudan, Somalia, Darfur and ways of enhancing AUPSC-UNSC cooperation for the prevention of conflicts and crises in Africa.

Further reading: http://www.au.int/en/content/9th-annual-joint-consultative-meeting-between-au -peace-and-security-council-aupsc-and-un-sec

Others Mbeki Meets Nigerian Stakeholders Ahead of Elections The former South African President Thabo Mbeki held a series of meetings with key stakeholders on March 9th Lagos, Nigeria to provide possible support during elections. The President and national parliamentarians election is scheduled for March 28th and State Governors and legislators Elections on April 11th 2015.

Further reading: http://www.afrikanspot.com/2015/03/nigeria-mbeki-meets-nigerianstakeholders-ahead-key-elections-mbeki-rencontre-les-acteurs-politiques-nigerians-la-veille-deselections-2/ Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union

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Understanding the African Union To be more informed and aware of the African Union Commission, kindly explore the Directorate of Communication and Information as proposed to you below.

Directorate of Communication and Information Background The Directorate develops, plans and conducts activities designed to provide information about the AU, including its aims and activities, to a wide range of audiences. It uses a variety of means including print media, internet, new information technology and publications; and partnerships with Member States, academia, libraries, youth and civil society. The Directorate disseminates information in the AU’s working languages. 67African Union Commission The Directorate also acts as the Commission’s spokesperson; develops outreach and advocacy programmes; advises senior management on editorial issues for speeches and statements; and supports each department in designing communication and information strategies. The Directorate also supports the development of a proposal to establish an AU radio station and television channel.

Mandate The Communication and Information Directorate has the mandate of developing, planning and conducting activities designed to provide information about the AU and to promote increased awareness about its aims and activities through various information tools and mechanisms.

Core Functions: 

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To serve as the focal point for disseminating information and to act as the spokesperson for the Commission; To draft news releases, correspondence or other informational publications and to assist with distribution of information materials; To manage, formulate and coordinate development and implementation of outreach as well as advocacy programmes for the Commission; To establish and maintain lines of communication with constituencies, non governmental organisations, policy institutions, academia, foundations and associations, as well as identify and coordinate action on opportunities to foster support for the objectives and activities of the AU; To formulate and advise on promotional strategies for press conferences, meetings and other activities planned for the outreach and advocacy programmes; To organise research and drafting of materials related to issue-oriented campaigns and events; To ensure development and maintenance of the website as well as relevant automated databases; To provide editorial advice, statements, speeches and replies to frequently asked and anticipated questions for use by senior management; To serve as the focal point for relations with, and support for, departments and programmes on communication and public information strategies and information dissemination; To coordinate implementation of the decisions of the meetings of the African Ministers of Information; To explore the possibility of establishing and managing a television and radio station for the African Union and a newspaper.

Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union

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UP Coming Events March

09-31 March

Event: 18TH COMESA SUMMIT Venue: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Contact: http://www.au.int/en/content/18thCOMESA_SUMMIT

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Event: Venue: Contact:

March

Event:

23-24 March

25-27

Women in Parliaments summit Nelson Mandela, African Union , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

http://www.womeninparliaments.org/event/wip-annualsummit-2015/

Regional Consultation towards the 3rd International Conference

on FFD

Venue: UN Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contact: Ms. Uzumma Erume: E-mail: uerume@uneca.org Event: 11th CAADP Partnership Platform Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa.

Contact:

http://pages.au.int/caadp/events/11th-caadp-partnership-

platform-march-25-27-johannesburg-south-africa

March

25-31 April

27-29

Event:

The 8th Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development

Venue: UN Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contact: Tel: (+251-11)5543556: E-mail: uncc-aa@uneca.org Event: Venue: Contact:

Africa Climate Resilient Infrastructure Summit (ACRIS) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia http://www.enticoevents.com/acris/

Disclaimer: Any views or articles presented in this email are solely those of the media source and do not represent those of the African Union

AU-Weekly Published by Oxfam Liaison Office to the AU

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