7th AU Pre-Summit on Gender kicks off with a call for enhancing the role of women and youth in the African Renaissance
Addis Ababa, 17th January 2013: On the margin of the 20th AU Summit, which will be held under the overall theme “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”, the Seventh African Union Pre-summit on Gender opened today Thursday 17th January 2013, at the AU New conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with its own theme of “Women and Youth in Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance”.
Organized
by the AUC Women, Gender, and Development Directorate (WGDD) in
collaboration with the Department of Human Resources, Science and
Technology (HRST), the two-day meeting is held with special focus on the
10th theme of the African Women’s Decade of Mentoring Youth (Women and Men) to be champions of Gender Equality.
It aims at explore the implication of gender within the discourse of
the African Renaissance and to make recommendation on how women can make
meaningful contribution to creating an African Renaissance.
Officially
opening the meeting, H.E. Dr. Nkoszana Dalimi Zuma, AUC Chairperson
said “it is our priority to strengthen our organization to response
better to the needs of our Member States and our population”. She
emphasized that whatever framework we come up with is not only for the
AUC, but a framework for the African continent".
Dr.
Zuma stressed on the urgency to look forward, for better future plans
for Africa. She said " We have to concentrate on education, skill
development, science and technology and innovation among others, and the
youth need to be the innovator and hopefully the youth will change the
image of Africa when they become active members in the society.
The
AUC Chairperson mentioned peace and security issues as a priority for
Africa, which will disappear in the future. She said Africa needs to pay
attention to development, and balance peace and security with
development on the continent.
The
AU Pre-Summit on Gender examined the important role that women and
youth currently play and the potential role they could play for more
effective integration of gender into Pan-Africanism and the African
Renaissance across Africa. It also explores possible mechanisms for
promoting women and youth as legitimate partners in Pan Africanism and
African Renaissance.
The
meeting was attended by representatives of WGDD, representatives of
civil society organizations (CSOs), representatives of youth, Regional
Economic Communities, researchers, Academics, and development partners.
The meeting will end on Friday 18th Jan 2013, and is a preparatory activity of the 20th African Union Summit which starts on Monday 21st of Jan.
