The Second Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Social Development began today, 24 November 2010, in Khartoum, Sudan. Under the theme of strengthening Social Policy Action towards Social Inclusion, the Ministers gathered to adopt strategies for the implementation of the Social Policy Framework for Africa (SPF) and to consider critical capacity building modalities to facilitate the implementation.
The President of the Republic of Sudan, Mr Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, in his statement read by the Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, indicated that Sudan had made significant progress in social development in accordance with goals and ideals of the MDGs and Sudan’s prior attention for the performance of agricultural sector.
Sudan had also incorporated social policy provisions for the elderly and vulnerable groups, and for protection of the family in its current National Development Plan, he added.
In her opening remarks, the African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, Adv. Bience Gawanas, stated that the Commission is tasked with protecting and defending the dignity and humanity of marginalized, excluded, vulnerable and displaced people and upholding social justice for all. In this regard, the commission has always been committed to take forward this mandate with the highest level of responsibility. “We developed policies, plans of action, and declarations and participated in continental, global and national platforms to give Africa a voice in the area of human and social development”, she said.
The Commissioner underlined that the conference theme ‘Strengthening Social Policy Action towards Social Inclusion’ is in line with many global agendas and conference themes towards poverty reduction, social transformation and abolishment of inequalities. “What we need now are dedicated leaders that will pull through and ensure implementation of the Social Policy Framework at country level; leaders and citizens that will engage in social policy capacity building activities in our respective countries”, she stressed. (The complete speech of the Commissioner is available on www.Africa-union.org )
Taking the floor, Senator Edwardo Matarazzo Suplicy from Brazil suggested that Africa could learn from social protection experiences of Brazil, which in 2004, approved payment of a basic income to all its citizens for the significant reduction of poverty levels and to improve livelihoods. The citizen’s basic income was payable to every Brazilian including foreigners living in Brazil for five years or more regardless of their origin, race, sex, age, civil, social or economic condition, he said.
He also challenged Africa to explore equitable use of its natural resource base to benefit its citizens.
The conference is expected to adopt implementation strategies for the SPF and social policy capacity building activities in Member States; the recommendations of the evaluation report on the plan of action of the decade of persons with disabilities (1999-2009), including the possible extension of the decade of persons with disabilities, proposal for the restructuring of the African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI); and the report on the creation of an advisory council on ageing.
Organized by the department of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC), and hostied by the Government of Sudan, the conference participants were drawn from AU Member States, the RECs, the AU Commission and AU Organs, UN Agencies, Development Partners, International, Regional and National Organizations, amongst others.
Journalists are invited to cover the closing ceremony today, Thursday 25 November 2010, at 17:00 hrs, at the Friendship Hall, in Khartoum, Sudan.
