AU Monitor

AU Citizens, CSOs and Coalitions at Sharm -El-Sheikh

Over 100 African Citizens, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Coalitions from the 5 geographical regions and the Diaspora participated in the Third Citizens Continental Conference on the AU Summit organized by the Centre for Citizens Participation in the African Union (CCP-AU) at the Pyramisa Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the conference H.E. Ambassador Shamel Naser, Egyptian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs praised the initiative of the CCP AU for organizing an independent forum of African Citizens to constructively contribute to the upcoming African Union Summit. ‘’ It is important for us to allow various voices of African Citizens within the decision making process of the AU’’ said Dr. Amany Asfour, President of the Egyptian Business Women Association, the host organization of the conference.

Ms. Yemisrach Kebede, Director of the CCP-AU said ‘’ Many African citizens and CSOs’ are active in engaging the continental body. Our Centre plays catalytic role in coordinating those actions and efforts around the AU decision making bodies’’.

The participatory sessions of the conference focused on various issues on the Summit agenda such as the audit of the AU; the Union Government of Africa; Peace and Security situation Darfur, Chad, Somalia, Zimbabwe and South Africa; Social and Economic justice in Africa; Water and Sanitation; the Millennium Development Goals and International Justice to name a few..

The Chairperson of the African Commission for Human and People’s Right Mrs. Sanji Mmasenono Monageng the African Union’s Special Raporteur on Women Rights in Africa, Mrs Soyata Maiga as well as representatives from some African embassies based in Egypt participated in the Continental Conference along with civil society organizations.

A Sharm - El Sheikh Declaration including various policy recommendations addressed to the 11th African Union summit was adopted at the end of the conference. This declaration will be released on 27 June during the meeting of the Executive Counsel (African Ministers of Foreign Affairs) at the AU Summit.

End.

Experts available for interview/comments:

Ms. Yemisrach Kebede; Director CCP-AU (English, French), Tel.: +201 63 41 64 87

Dr. Amani Asfour: President EBWA (Arabic, English, French): Tel. +201 22 30 58 32

Mr. Brian Kagoro: Pan African Policy and Advocacy Manager; Action Aid International (English) Tel.: +254 724 268 150

Ms. Roselynn Musa, Senior Advocacy Officer, FEMNET: Tel.: +201 86 80 35 71

Mr. Dismas Nkunda: Coordinator, Darfur Consortium (English) Tel. +201 61 80 13 42

Ms. Hakima Abbas: Senior Policy Analyst; African Union Monitor (English, French) Tel.: +201 60 01 68 50

Mr. Allioune Tine, Secretary General RADDHO (French, English) Tel.: +201 69 97 02 73

For media inquiries please call Ms. Semiha Abdulmelik: +201 69 97 02 73


Ms. Yemi Kebede
Coordinator, CCP-AU
Tel: +251 911 45 08 22
E-mail:
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The Center for Citizens participation in the African Union (CCP-AU) is a platform of CSOs/NGOs aiming to encourage African citizens engagement and participation in the African Union. CCP-AU interim steering Committee is composed by the following organizations: Action Aid - Ethiopia, African Center for Humanitarian Action (ACHA), African Rally for Peace and Development (ARPD), Afroflag Youth Vision (AYV), Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia (OSJE) and Oxfam.

Posted by on 06/24 at 08:17 AM

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