The African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) today launched the ECOSOCC Pan-African Month (PAM) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the African Union with core activities revolving around the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 4th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. The month of July 2022 marks 20 years since the Durban Summit, which established the AU, and nearly 60 years since the Organisation of African Unity was founded (OAU).
ECOSOCC intends to leverage on the AU at 20 celebrations, in particular, to honour and showcase African CSOs for their unwavering participation in issues on the African continent's political and socioeconomic advancement within their respective regions and countries, as well as to reignite and strengthen the spirit of Pan Africanism among civil society.
Launching the PAM, Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, Strategic Adviser to the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, emphasized the significance of the PAM urging civil society and the African Citizenry to play an active role in the month’s activities.
“It is said that one hand cannot clap but it requires two to tango…. we are at a moment when we have the potential to transform the Continent we so dearly inherited to the Africa we so genuinely want. It is at such moments of history that reflection is requested, and action is expected. The ECOSOCC Civil-Society Pan- African Month is an opportunity to respond to this call and to meet that anticipation,” he said.
Prof. Fatima Karadja, former Deputy Presiding Officer of ECOSOCC for Northern Africa Region, and Champion of the ECOSOCC Pan-African Month called on Africa’s civil society to reignite the spirit of Pan-Africanism and help to spread the word so as to own the AU’s Agenda 2063 and its aspirations for Africa.
Mr. William Carew, Head of ECOSOCC Secretariat said, “The importance of having a healthy Pan-Africanism discourse especially led by Africans, cannot be overemphasized. July 2022 marks 20 years since the Durban Summit. It is at this summit where the African Union was formed. 2022 is also nearly 60 years since the OAU was founded. Further, July 2004 is when ECOSOCC was established to give full meaning to the people centric vision of the AU in ensuring that the African citizens are at the centre of their development. July just seems to be the right moment to reflect and take note of the progress made by people on the continent, having seen the great groundwork that was laid down by the continent’s founding fathers.”
The PAM calendar of activities, affords CSOs and the African Citizenry a chance to participate throughout the month of July. The events are being held to promote dialogue between all segments of African society on issues concerning the Continent and its future.
ECOSOCC Pan-African month was organized in collaboration with various partners, some of whom gave brief remarks on their Pan-African Month events as well as the importance of reigniting the spirit of Pan-Africanism. Ms. Mukupa Nsenduluka, Policy Officer at Tax Justice Network Africa; Mr. Peter Kamalingin, Oxfam Pan Africa Programme Director; Mr. Maunda Hermis Zambia Representative of Joining Forces Alliance; and Ms. Yavi Madurai, Executive Director of Pan African Business Women’s Association (PABWA) gave remarks at the launch.
To learn more about the PAM, please visit www.ecosocc.au.int
