Source: PR-USA.net
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, has today, 04 May 2011, met in his office at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, with 7 of fourteen Women Ambassadors accredited to the African Union who visited Sudan from 13 – 17 April 2011 on a solidarity mission with Sudanese women. They have briefed the chairperson about their visit.

Dr. Ping on the occasion expressed appreciation for the roles women are playing in realizing peace and stability, especially in conflict zones. The Chairperson indicated that the African Union Commission has an unwavering commitment to involving more and more women in such and other political roles. As an example, the Chairperson mentioned the imminent joint appointment by AU and UN of a woman as Deputy Joint Special Representative of the Hybrid UN-AU Mission to Darfur (UNAMID).

The women ambassadors of Ireland, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Kenya, who participated at the meeting with AUC Chairperson, expressed their gratitude to the AU and UN for facilitating their trip and making it a success.

The mission took place as the world marked the hundredth year of the international women's day, the launch of the African Women's Decade as well as the 10th year anniversary of the UN Security Council's Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

The goals of the mission were to deepen the understanding of the Women Ambassadors accredited to the African Union in relation to the search for peace and stability in the Sudan and to encourage continued engagement of women in all processes that seek sustainable peace, justice and development. It was also meant to stress the importance of ensuring that issues of concern to women are included in policy discussions by the AU as well as its partners regarding the Sudan.