Pretoria - South African President Jacob Zuma is set to lead a delegation to the African Union summit taking place in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia this weekend.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency confirmed Zuma and a delegation of key ministers would be present for the 26th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly.
The 2016 summit takes place under the theme “African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on the Rights of Women”, and the Presidency said this theme was of extreme importance to South Africa as a country “as we mark 20 years since the adoption of the Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) and the Bill of Rights, as well as 60 years since the historic women’s march to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956”.
Zuma said: “Human Rights, especially women’s rights, remain the cornerstone of South Africa’s legal framework and policies, such as the National Development Plan, which is in line with AU Agenda 2063’s vision that there will be gender equality and women’s empowerment in all spheres of life.”
Zuma will be accompanied by the Minister of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Minister of Women, Susan Shabangu, Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo, and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha.
This African Union session takes place in the context of the 35th Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which was adopted in Nairobi on 27 June 1981, and which entered into force on October 21 1986.
The Summit is expected to reaffirm Africa’s commitment to human and people’s rights.
ANA
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