27th African Union Summit
Pre-Summit Multi-Stakeholder Seminar: African Year of Human Rights with Special Focus on the Rights of Women Wednesday, 29th June, 2016 @ 9:00 am. Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa CONCEPT NOTE Background The 27th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 10 – 18th July 2016 under the theme: “African Year of Human Rights with Specific focus on the Rights of Women,” in Kigali, Rwanda. This theme will be debated by Heads of State before adopting a Declaration on it. Other than the theme of the year, the single most important issue likely to dominate the Summit is the election of the African Union Commission leadership. The 10 cabinet members of the AU Commission including the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and 8 Commissioners will be elected/re-elected in Kigali if everything goes well. The current Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who has only served one 4-year term (from 2012) is eligible but she is not contesting for another term. The Deputy Chairperson, Erastus Mwencha and two other commissioners (Infrastructure and Energy, Rural Economy and Agriculture), having been elected twice (in 2008 and 2012) are not eligible for re-election. The other six commissioners (Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Social Affairs, Trade and Industry, Economic Affairs and Human Resources Science and Technology), who have only served one term are eligible to run. Except the Commissioner for Political Affairs and the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, these have all put forward their candidature. In addition, the Summit is also expected to address the state of peace and security on the continent. A Peace and Security Council (PSC) Summit will convene for in-depth discussions on a select number of burning crises and the funding of peace operations in Africa. The Assembly will also consider the AUC Chairperson’s Report on the activities of the PSC and the state of peace and security in Africa and adopted an omnibus of decisions on many of the unresolved situations such as Burundi, South Sudan, Sudan, DRC, Somalia, CAR, Western Sahara, Mali etc. Most likely this will also include emerging threats to peace and security, such as maritime security and terrorism. Unlike previous Summits, the AU Commission (AUC) is not inviting any observers (Non-African countries, Non-State Actors and other) to this Summit – a move strongly contested by CSOs.
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Objectives of the Seminar Oxfam and partners will be hosting a half-day pre-summit seminar as part of our regular effort to provide a platform for debating and considering the major issues on the Summit agenda. The overall objective of this seminar is to analyse various policy options, expectations and, implications of the AU summit outcomes. This event presents a unique opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders including representatives of AU member states, regional and international organisations, the diplomatic community, civil society and ordinary citizens to discuss and exchange views on the key items on the agenda ahead of the AU Summit. Presentations will include: Overview: key issues on the Summit Agenda The AUC Elections The theme: Human Rights on the continent: realities and perspectives Closure of the Summit to Observers: rationale & implications Peace and Security Expected Speakers:
Ambassador Albert Francis Yankey, Abassador, Republic of Ghana Ms. Jennifer Chiriga, Chief of Staff, African Union Commission Mr. Desire Assogbavi, Head of the Liaison Office to the AU, Oxfam International Mr. Don Deya, Chief Executive Officer - Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) Dr. Adebayo Olukoshi, Africa Regional Director, International Idea Ms. Brenda Mofya, Policy Advisor – Peace and Security, Oxfam International
Draft Agenda: 8:30 – 9:00: Registration & coffee 9:00 – 9:10: Welcome and introduction 9:10 – 9:25: Overview of the 27th AU Summit: Ms. Jennifer Chiriga, Chief of Staff, AUC 9:25 – 9:45: "Africa's aspiration for human rights and democracy: Abiding to our shared values": H.E. Ambassador Albert Francis Yankey, Ambassador of Ghana 9:45 – 10:00: AUC Elections: Desire Assogbavi, Head: Oxfam Liaison Office to the African Union 10:00 – 10:15: Peace and Security issues: Ms. Brenda Mofya, Policy Advisor – Peace and Security, Oxfam International 10:15 – 10:30: Closure of the AU Summit to observers: Don Deya; CEO, Pan Africa Lawyers’ Union 10:30 – 12:30: Discussions and Networking 13:00: Lunch 2
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