|
CONTEXT
Following the African Union,
Caribbean Diaspora Conference held in March 2005, a
decision was taken during the African Union Summit
of Heads of State and Government held in January
2006, to designate South Africa as the host country
for a Summit on the African Diaspora. This Summit is
scheduled to take place in the first quarter of
2008.
The theme of the Summit is
“Towards the realisation of a united and integrated
Africa and its
Diaspora: A Shared vision for sustainable
development to address common challenges.”
The main objective of
this Summit is to create sustainable partnerships
between the African Diaspora and the Continent
through a concrete and realistic Programme of
Action.
As part of the preparations for
the Summit, Regional Consultative Conferences (RCCs)
are being held in various parts of the world
throughout the year 2007. Regional Conferences were
held for Latin America in Brazil on 16 April 2007,
in London on 24 April 2007, in the Bahamas for the
Caribbean on 2 and 3 August 2007 and in New York for
North America on 22 and 23 June 2007 and possibly in
Addis Ababa for Africa on 30 August 2007.
The RCC
for Europe would be held on 11 and 12 September 2007
in Paris. We expect 400 participants, 50% from the
African Diaspora in France with the rest drawn from
civil society and African Diaspora associations from
the rest of Europe.
DRAFT PROGRAMME
(Last Update, 13 August 2007, 11h15)
DAY 1: Tuesday, 11
September 2007
08h45 – 09h15
Arrival of Delegates at the Conference
venue
Plenary Session
09h30: Official Opening of
Plenary Session and Welcome Remarks
Co-Chairs: AU Representative to
the European Union and Ambassador representing the
Chair of the AU or the South African Ambassador to
France
09h40 Address by the South
African Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr
Nkosazana DLAMINI ZUMA (tbc)(20 mins)
10h00 Address by a
Representative of the African Union
(To be identified by H.E. Mr Mahamat Saleh
ANNADIF, the AU representative to the EU) (10 mins)
10h10 Address by a
Representative of the Carribean
Professor Orlando PATTERSON, Historical and Cultural
Sociologist (10 mins)
10h20 Address by representative
of the African Diaspora in Europe
Professor Thandika MKANDAWIRE, Director at the
United Nations Research Institute fro Social
Development (UNRISD) (10 mins)
10h30 Order
of Proceedings for the Conference
Chief Rapporteur
10h40
Discussion to ensure clarification
11h00 Panel
Discussion One: The African Diaspora in Europe
Theme: Nature and composition
of the African Diaspora in Europe, the consolidation
of the Diaspora structures, and processes to promote
communication and co-operation with Africa
Guidelines:
The panel should discuss the practical implications
of the AU decision to declare the Diaspora as the
Sixth Region of the continent. In this regard the
panel should inter alia focus on:
- the composition and characteristics of the
African Diaspora in Europe,
- the nature of a relationship between the
Diaspora in Europe with the continent,
- the consolidation of the Diaspora, and its
structures and processes to promote communication
and co-operation with Africa,
- a joint Africa-African Diaspora partnership
and programme for sustainable development, and
- the mechanisms to establish a representative
Diaspora Secretariat/contact point/representative
forum to co-ordinate activities of the Diaspora in
Europe and the AU-Diaspora Programme of Action for
Europe.
Facilitator 1: H.E. Ambassador
Joe KESHI, National Co-ordinator, Nigerian National
Volunteer Service (NNVS), Abuja, Nigeria
Speaker 1: Ms Barryl A. BIEKMAN,
President of the Pan African Strategic and Policy
Group Europe and President of the African European
Women Movement “Sophiedela”, Netherlands (10mins)
5 Panellists (5 minutes each to
present)
Panellist 1: Mr Dogard DOGOUI, President of AFRICAGORA, France
Panellist 2: Prof
Charles YANKAH, President of the African Cultural
Institute in Berlin and President of the
German-Ghanaian Economic Association, Germany
Panellist 3: Mr
David GAKUNZI, Head of the North-South Dialogue
Section, North-South Centre of the Council of
Europe, Portugal
Panellist 4: Mr Sidi
Tidiane GUEYE, President of the Federation of
African Workers in France (FETAF)
Panellist 5: Prof
David HORNE, Professor of Critical Thinking and Pan
African Study, California State University,
Northridge
Rapporteur 1: Mr Cyril
NDABA (South Africa High Commission: United Kingdom)
Scribes 1, 2, 3, 4: Mr. Matt
MATIWANE (South Africa Embassy: Paris), Ms. Pricilla
REETOO (Mauritius Embassy: Paris), Ms Nomathamsanqa
NXUMALO-VALLIHU (South Africa High Commission:
United Kingdom) and Ms Regina ANYAMWU (Legal advisor
to Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) and
member of PanAFETRAG, France)
11h40 –12h15
Question and Answer Session
12h30-14h00 LUNCH
14h00-17h00
Working Group Sessions
Commission 1
Theme: Global Dialogue,
International Relations, Peace and Stability
Guidelines:
- The role of the African Diaspora in Europe in
conflict prevention, early warning and conflict
resolution,
- The role and contributions of the African
Diaspora in post-conflict reconstruction and
development,
- Building coalitions of women’s and youth
groups in support of peace initiatives and in
support of those affected by conflict, violence
and war.
- The role of the Diaspora in building dialogue
between global/regional institutions such as the
EU, Francophone, Commonwealth, UN and WTO etc.
Facilitator 2: H.E. Dr
Anil SOOKLAL, South African Ambassador to Belgium
Speaker 2: Prof
Albert BOURGI, Law Professor, Politologue at Reims
University, France
Speaker 3: Dr Awill
MOHAMOUD, Chair of the African Diaspora Policy
Centre, Netherlands
Speaker 4: Prof Olusola
OJO, Professor of International Relations and Dean
at Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
Speaker 5: The
Honourable Mercedes Lourdes FRIAS, Member of the
National Parliament in the Tuscany Constituency,
Italy
Rapporteur 2: Mr. Sonni
YUSUF (Nigeria Embassy: Paris)
Scribes 5, 6, 7: Mr
Duncan SEBEFELO (South Africa Embassy: Rome), Mr SG
GITHIEYA, (Kenya Embassy: Paris) and Ms Yolande
DWARIKA (South Africa Embassy: Netherlands)
Discussion
Commission 2
Theme: Economic
Co-operation and Sustainable Development
Guidelines:
- Immigration and Co-Development,
- Explore joint projects aimed at contributing
towards:
- Infrastructure development in Africa
- Development of Small, Medium and Micro
Enterprises
- Development programmes to enhance
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial skills in
Africa with particular emphasis on women and the
youth,
- The effective utilisation of Remittances as a
vehicle for development,
- Business co-operation (Private Sector)
The private sector drives much of the existing
partnership between the African Continent and the
Diaspora and therefore discussion should concentrate
on how to leverage that interaction that already
exists to assist in the upliftment of the Continent.
Particular focus should be paid to issues such as
access to capital, micro finance, joint ventures,
and investment opportunities in Africa and barriers
to trade.
- Economic empowerment of women and youth.
Facilitator 3:H.E.
Ambassador Raychelle AWUOR OMAMO,
Ambassador of Kenya to France
Speaker 6: Mr.
Francois NDEGWE, Researcher and Economist, TELEMA
(An Independent African Think Tank)
Speaker 7: Ms Tana
ANGLANA, Project manager of the International
Organisation for Migration (IMO), Italy
Speaker 8: Ms.
Chantal CLARICIA, President of the Francophone
Network of Black Business Women
Speaker 9: Mr
Vincent OKELE, President of African Axis, Belgium
(5-7 mins)
Rapporteur 3: Mr Iaan
BASSON (South Africa Embassy: Belgium)
Scribes 8, 9, 10 Mr.
Angus SEPTEMBER (South African Embassy: Portugal),
Ms Genevieve MANEL (Senegal Embassy: Paris) and Mr
Jaimal ANAND (South African Embassy: Switzerland)
Discussion
Commission 3
Theme: Historical,
Socio-Cultural and Religious Commonalities and
Challenges
Guidelines:
- Racism, xenophobia, religious and other
related intolerances,
- Slavery and reparations,
- Human Trafficking with particular emphasis on
women,
- Promotion of African Languages,
- Countering negative perceptions of indigenous
African religions,
- Protection of Indigenous knowledge and
intellectual property rights,
- Promoting Cultural Diversity,
- Implications of the Commission outcomes to
address the specific vulnerability of women,
children and the youth
Facilitator 4: Mme
Joby VALENTE DERSION, Vice-President of the
Committee of the Children of Deported African (COFFAD),
France
Speaker 10:
Professor Jean Philippe OMUTUNDE, Historian and
Researcher, AfricaMaat Institute, France
Speaker 11: Dr Hugo
CAMPBELL, Director of the Institute Netherlands /
Netherlands Antilles-Aruba-Suriname for Research and
Education (INAASOO), Netherlands
Speaker 12: Mr Claude
RIBBE, Historian and writer, France
Speaker 13: Mr Ndjock
NGANA, Director of KELLAM Cultural Organisation,
Italy
Speaker 14: Dr Elizabeth WANGARI, Program Specialist in the Africa Unit,
World Heritage Centre, UNESCO
Rapporteur 4: Mr Piabié
Firmin N’DO (Burkina Faso Embassy: Paris)
Scribes 11,12, 13: Ms
Hurchele SAAIMAN (South Africa Embassy: Italy), Ms
Aichatou Diallo BA (Mauritania Embassy: Paris) and
Ms Landela VANQA (South Africa Embassy: Sweden)
Discussion
Commission 4
Theme: Women and
children
Guidelines:
- Building coalitions for the empowerment of
women and youth:
- Political empowerment
- Economic empowerment
- Enhancing the role of women in civil society
structures,
- Creating equal education opportunities for the
Girl Child ,
- Building programmes to support women and
children who are victims of conflict, violence and
war.
- Building coalitions to promote the rights of
the child
Facilitator 5: H.E.
Ambassador Yolande BIKE, Permanent Delegate of Gabon
to UNESCO / H.E. Ambassador Tadelech Hailé MICHAEL,
Permanent Delegate of Ethiopia to UNESCO
Speaker 15: Ms
Damarys MAA MARCHAND, Initiatives des
Femmes Africaines de France et d’Europe (IFAFE),
France
Speaker 16: Ms Samia
NKRUMAH, Head of the Rome-based
African Women Association “Nyeleti”, Italy
Speaker 17: Ms Ngozi
CHIEKEZIE-NWOSU, Vice Chair of the African Diaspora
Community Council (ADCC), Netherlands
Rapporteur 5: Ms Odile NGO MBILLA, International Development Law expert and
member of the European Federation of Black Women
Entrepreneurs, Italy
Scribes 14, 15, 16: Ms.
Mantsaye NGWAILA (South Africa Embassy: Brussels),
Mr Tope ELIAS-FATILE (Nigeria Embassy: Paris) and Mr
Fidel KANIKA (Zambia Embassy:
Paris)
Discussion
Commission 5
Theme: Knowledge Sharing
Guidelines:
- Addressing scarce skills in African economies,
- Academia and higher education – exchange
programmes,
- Technology transfer,
- Promoting research and innovation,
- Implications of the Commission outcomes to
address the specific vulnerability of women,
children and the youth
Facilitator 6: H.E.
Ambassador Hassan Oman Gumbo KIBELLOH, Ambassador of
Tanzania to France
Speaker 18: Mr.
Gaspar Koko LONSI, President of Club Afrique, France
(5 -7 mins)
Speaker 19: Mr
Kenneth ROBINSON, Chairman of the African Community,
Netherlands
Speaker 20: Mr Attah
DIOUF, Président d’Institut Pour la
Rénovation Industrielle en Afrique (IRIAN),
France
Rapporteur 6: Mr Misheck
HOVE (Zimbabwe Embassy: Paris)
Scribes 17, 18, 19: Mr. Bulelani
MANDLA (South Africa Embassy: London), Ms Evelyn
OFOSU-AMABLE, (Ghana Embassy: Paris) and Mr Nkhulu
SEBOTHOMA (South Africa Embassy: Netherlands)
Discussion
Commission 6
Theme: Health and
disability
Guidelines:
- Finding finances, other resources, skills and
technology to address Africa’s major health
problems, especially Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS
and other communicable diseases
- Exchange programmes for the exchange of
medical professionals
- The use of innovative technologies to assist
under resourced areas
- Projects to promote access to basic health
services
- Nutrition and early childhood development
- Addressing the particular challenges of women
and youth
Facilitator 7: Dr
Felix KONOTEY-AHULU, Doctor, United
Kingdom
Speaker 21: Prof
Charles YANKAH, President of the African Cultural
Institute in Berlin and President of the
German-Ghanaian Economic Association, Germany
Speaker 22: The
Honourable Mr Victor Emeka OKEADU, representative of
the Italian African Diaspora on the Roma Council,
Italy
Speaker 23: Dr Ngozi
MBONU, Doctor, Netherlands (5 -7 mins)
Rapporteur 7: Mr Michael
MUTONGA (Namibia Embassy: Paris)
Scribes 20, 21, 22: Ms Nosi
SHOPE (South Africa Embassy: Spain), Ms Aminatou
BATOURE GAOH (Niger Embassy: Paris) and Ms Hanna
UHR-DAAL (Secretary of the sub-Regional Africa
Diaspora Council, Netherlands)
Discussion
Commission 7
Theme: Youth and
Development
Guidelines:
- Promoting solidarity between the youth of
Africa and those of the Europe Diaspora
- Role of the AU Youth Commission and the
Youth Commissions of member states
- Exploring youth exchange programmes
- Developing African Sports potential:
- Sport as a vehicle for development
- Exchange programmes with particular emphasis
on sports that are underdeveloped in Africa
- Creating awareness of the important
contributions of Africa in the development of
knowledge systems
Facilitator 8: Ms
Namtip AKSORNKOOL, UNESCO
Speaker 24: Mr
Sergio BELFOR, Chair of the Youth Advisory Board
Rotterdam and former member of the CARRICOM Youth
Parliament
Speaker 25: Mr
Mwayila TCHIYEMBE, Director of the
Pan African Institute of Geo-politics at the
University of Nancy
Speaker 26: Mr
Souleymane Astou DIAGNE, President of the African
Students Association of France
Speaker 27: Ms Annick
NARAHUVYE, African European Youth Council, Belgium
Rapporteur 8: Dr Guy
Ernest SANGA, Director of CERAD, the African &
Diaspora Research and Study Centre, Italy
Scribes 23, 24, 25: Mr Dioka
MOGANO (South Africa Embassy: Paris), Mr Tewfik
Abdelkader MAHI (Algerian Embassy: Paris) and Ms
Gale McKOY-GEORGE (Diaspora Representative,
Netherlands)
Discussion
17h00
Conclusion of proceedings for the day
18h00 –
19h00 Cultural
Display
19h15 –
21h30 Dinner hosted
by HE Ms Nomasonto SIBANDA-THUSI, South Africa’s
Ambassador to France
DAY 2: Wednesday,
12 September 2007
Plenary Session
09h00
Welcome Remarks
Co-Chairs
09h10 Panel
Discussion Two: Media and Image Building
Theme: Media Strategy and
Communication. Ensuring the independence of the
media and accountability, obligations and
responsibilities, image building of Africa and her
leadership
Guidelines:
The panel should explore mechanisms for the
sustained engagement of the media and for effective
communication in Europe to promote a balanced view
of Africans and the continent. In this regard the
panel should focus on:
- building a co-ordinated approach to monitoring
and engaging the media in Europe,
- developing the capacity of the African media
in Europe,
- building partnerships between the African
media and media groups/organisations in the
Diaspora,
- building a partnership with the AU and the
media in Europe to profile African challenges,
African initiatives, African leaders and African
successes.
Facilitator 9: Mr.
Alcinou DA COSTA, Pan African News Agency
Speaker 28: Tbc
5 Panellists (5
minutes each to present)
Panellist 6: Mr Bechir Ben YAHMED, Chief Editor of Jeune Afrique
Panellist 7: Mr Nizar
BEN SAAD, Collaborateur permanent au Journal “Le
Renouveau”
Panellist 8: Ms Maria
de Lourdes JESUS, President of the International
Association of Capeverdean Diaspora High Ranking
Emissaries, Italy
Panellist 9: Mr
Constant NEMALE, Managing Director, TELESUD/ ETNIUM
Marketing and Communications, France
Panellist 10: Mr Hassan
JALLOH, Director of AfroNet, member of the African
Diaspora Community Council, Netherlands
Rapporteur 1: Mr Cyril
NDABA (South Africa High Commission: United Kingdom)
Scribes 1, 2, 3, 4: Mr. Matt
MATIWANE (South Africa Embassy: Paris), Ms. Pricilla
REETOO (Mauritius Embassy: Paris), Ms Nomathamsanqa
NXUMALO-VALLIHU (South Africa High Commission:
United Kingdom) and Ms Regina ANYAMWU (Legal advisor
to Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) and
member of PanAFETRAG, France)
09h40
Question and Answer Session
11h00-11h30 TEA /
COFFEE / REFRESHMENTS
11h30 Report
Back
Facilitator, in conjunction with the rapporteur
of each panel discussion/commission to present a
summary of discussions and the proposals detailing
the way forward
11h30: Panel Discussion 1
Facilitator and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes
to note amendments
11h50: Commission 1:
Facilitator and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes to note amendments
12h10: Commission 2:
Facilitator and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes
to note amendments
12h30: Commission 3: Facilitator
and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes to
note amendments
12h50: Commission 4: Facilitator
and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes
to note amendments
13h10-14h30 Lunch
14h30: Commission 5: Facilitator
and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes to
note amendments
14h50: Commission 6: Facilitator
and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes to
note amendments
15h10: Commission 7: Facilitator
and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes to
note amendments
15h30: Panel Discussion 2
Facilitator and Rapporteur
Discussion
Scribes to note
amendments
15h50: The Way
Forward
16h20: Closing Remarks: Co-Chairs
16h30: Conference concludes
17h00 Press
Conference
|
