Human rights dominate AU talks in Addis

AU Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. PHOTO | AFP 

By Andualem Sisay

In Summary

• AU Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma noted that there was slow progress in advancing human rights in Africa.

The African Union Heads of Sates Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this morning focused on advancing human rights on the continent.

Stating that though progress had been registered in terms of human rights such as advancing press freedom in Africa, AU Commission chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, noted that the progress is slow.

“We must use 2016 to advance human rights,” she urged member states.

In last year's meeting, African leaders had dedicated 2016 as the African human rights year. This year’s summit also has a special focus on women's rights.

Speaking on rights violations, United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon noted that Africa has endured some of the worst discrimination.

“Leaders must protect their people and not themselves,” the Secretary General said, indicating that 17 African countries will conduct general elections in 2016.

In 2015, several African countries' leaders were criticized for changing their constitutions in order to extend their terms in office, among them Burundi and Rwanda.

The AU Summit in Addis Ababa is expected to deliberate on the ongoing crisis in Burundi, which has rejected AU peacekeepers from its territory.

“The UN has a zero tolerance policy on sexual abuses,” Mr Moon said regarding reports on alleged sexual abuse reports implicating UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic.