The 11th AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue was concluded today in Kigali, Rwanda.  The Dialogue was led by the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr Aisha L. Abdullahi and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr Stavros Lambrinidis.

The AU participants included Hon. Justice Augustino S. L. Ramadhani, President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Hon. Madam Zainabu Kayitesi, Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Mr. Omar Faruk Osman, Chairperson for Political Affairs Cluster of ECOSOCC, Dr. Khabele Matlosa, AU Director for Political Affairs, as well as other AU staff working on human rights-related issues. On the EU side the participants included Amb. Gary Quince, Head of EU Delegation to the AU, Amb. Michael Ryan, Head of EU Delegation to Rwanda, Mrs. Kristin de Peyron, Head of Division, Pan-African Affairs, as well as EU staff working on human rights-related issues.

The AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue is held annually in pursuance of the decision of the 6th EU-Africa Ministerial Troika Meeting in Vienna that was confirmed at the subsequent 7th meeting in Brazzaville. The Dialogue is intended, among other things, to implement the AU-EU Action Plan and Joint Strategy within the partnership on Democratic Governance and Human Rights. The Dialogue entails regular sharing of experience on issues related to Human Rights, Democratic Principles and the Rule of Law in Africa and in Europe, with a view to overcoming the challenges and consolidating the achievements, as well as enhancing coordination on Human Rights issues in multilateral fora, such as the Human Rights Council.

H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs addressed the dialogue and stated that “the AU-EU Partnership on Democratic Governance and Human Rights has been getting stronger over the years as can be seen from the numerous AU and EU resolutions as well as policy decisions adopted within the broader framework of this partnership”.

The Commissioner further added “in the area of human rights, the AU and the EU have already taken the AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue to an operational level through the implementation of a number of joint activities and programmes”.

The was concluded by issuing a joint Communiqué on a number of issues of mutual interest as well as programmes and activities to be implemented in 2016, the Year of Human Rights in Africa with Special focus on the Rights of Women.