The African Union has declared 2019 as the year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons finding durable solutions. The theme is expected to address the challenge Africa is facing with at least over 6 million displaced persons. The year also marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the AU convention and the 10th year anniversary of the Kampala convention on IDPs. This will be declared at the 32nd summit of the Heads of state and government. The February 2019 Summit will also take stock of the progress made towards the reform of the African Union (AU) decided in an extraordinary Summit in November 2018, in Addis Ababa
While this has been lauded by stakeholders across the continent given the challenge Africa has faced with migration within the continent and more troubling, the loss of lives in the Mediterranean sea and the slavery in Libya, there is cautious optimism due to the slow pace of implementation of key political decisions and policies like the African passport and most recently, the CFTA.
These issues including shrinking civic space and lack of responsible democratic governance revealed in sham elections and the use of armed force to stem citizens action have raised concerns about the continent’s leadership commitment to addressing the theme in an effective manner that puts people at the centre of policies and programmes to achieve this theme.
It is against this background that Oxfam Pan Africa, Pan Africa Citizens Union, FEMNET, Trust Africa and other Pan African civil society organisations are coming together under the auspices of the 8th Citizens conference to raise the voice of citizens in the continent and speak truth to power by making their voices heard in the Implementation of the theme and demand accountability from their leaders.
The conference which will take place from the 4th – 6th February 2019 at the Capital hotel in Addis Ababa, will see over 300 citizens in the continent respond to the theme Where is the Africa we want? Citizens Perspectives will be captured in a press conference on:
Date: Wednesday 6th February 2019
Time: 3pm (GMT +3)
Venue: Capital Hotel
22 Haile Gebre Silase St Addis Ababa ET 1878, Haile Gebre Silase St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
For any press queries, interviews and further information, please contact:
Ms. Maimouna Tall (Oxfam Pan Africa Communications and Media Manager) – Maimouna.Tall@oxfam.org
+251 944 307 828
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