African Union Press Release: Making the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Africa a Reality
AFRICAN UNION
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ETHIOPIA
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5511299
Web site: www. africa-union.org
PRESS RELEASE
“Making the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Africa a Reality”
Banjul, 12 May 2010 – The African Union (AU) concluded the second meeting of its organs on the Human Rights Strategy for Africa, in Banjul, The Gambia. The meeting was held from 10 to 12 May 2010 on the margins of the 47th session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.
In attendance were representatives from AU Organs with a human rights mandate, Regional Economic Communities and their institutions, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Liaison Office to the African Union, United Nations Office for West Africa, EU Delegation to the African Union, Representatives of African Civil Society and partner organizations, as well as African Human Rights Experts.
H.E. Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner, Commissioner for Political Affairs, reiterated the imperative of closing the gap between commitment and action in the realm of human rights. She pointed out that efforts at overcoming this challenge should be premised on collective responsibility. She further noted that in moving forward the process of developing the Human Rights Strategy for Africa, a substantive analysis of the human rights policies and obligations at all governance levels is important. Additionally, she stressed that the January 2011, AU Summit on the theme Shared Values provides immense opportunity to re-engage policy-makers on their commitment to the human rights agenda of Africa.
The meeting adopted the draft framework of the Human Rights Strategy for Africa. It also commenced the process of collective reflection on Shared Values which constitutes the theme of the January 2011 AU Summit.
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For further information, please contact Dr. Mamadou Dia at [email protected]
