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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 18 Apr 2008 : 15:37:24
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AU Commissioner Denounces Impunity
By Madi S. Njie
Julia Dolly Joiner, Commissioner for Political Affairs at the Africa Union, has called on everyone to collectively fight against impunity, end discrimination and promote gender equality on the continent.
This statement is contained in a speech delivered, on her behalf, by Dr. Mamadou Dia, at the opening of a three-day sub-regional workshop on “Realising Women’s Right through Human Rights Education”, which ended on Wednesday, 16 April, 2008, at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
In her statement, H.E. Mrs. Joiner emphasized that “we have a moral obligation to save both current and future generations and we must act now to build the culture of respect for human rights in Africa.
To prevent human rights violations on our continent, Madam Joiner stressed that “human rights education is very crucial for the prevention of human rights violations on the continent by promoting respect for the dignity, equality and participation in democratic-decision making and the long term prevention of abuses and violent conflicts on our continent.
She noted that the workshop, which targets West African Women, is designed within the framework or the implementation programme of the African Union and that it was part of a series of meetings organised by the continental body in collaboration with its partners, pointing out that a similar one was held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2005, followed by another one held in Algiers, Algeria.
For her part, Ms. Souad Abdennebi, Regional Adviser for the Promotion of Women, Human and Legal Rights, said “the promotion of gender equality is a crucial component of human rights and a challenge for both men and women”, adding that “durable development and poverty reduction can only be achieved through the realization of the rights of women and the elimination of inequalities between men and women, which can be brought for all.
“In January 2005, the international community adopted a World Program on Human Rights Education with the aim to developing national human rights education programs,” hence, called for review of the situation in order to share experience on best practices, challenges and perspectives.
Welcoming participants on behalf of the Women’s Bureau of the Gambia, Mr. Kajah Sonko, Programme Officer, said, a national Women’s Bill has been developed in consultation with partners in 2007, which incorporates international and regional human rights treaties such as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
The three-day programme was characterised by presentations from the respective countries, such as, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Senegal and others.
Participants discussed the presentations and general issues regarding the implementation of integrating human right education in primary and secondary education curricula and recommendations were made.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 45/2008, 18 – 20 April 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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