|
Don’t allow peace efforts in Darfur to
diminish – UN
Accra, July 1, GNA – The Deputy Secretary General of the
United Nations on Sunday called on African leaders not to
allow the world body’s efforts in Darfur to diminish, but
work hard to take forward the crucial Comprehensive Peace
Agreement for the Sudan.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Session of the African
Union Summit in Accra, which is engaged with the subject of
a Union Government for Africa, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, said the
world must seek to address the root causes of the conflict
in Darfur.
She welcomed the efforts being put in by the UN and the AU
in Darfur, but noted that more work was required to
reinvigorate the political process and bring a negotiated
solution to the crisis.
The Accra Summit is the second to be held in Accra after Dr
Nkrumah first hosted it in Accra in 1965.
She described the manner of deployment of the AU Mission in
Somalia as “challenging and in a volatile security
environment” that was not only daunting but required and
deserved the full support of the international community.
Dr Migiro said it was healthy for the AU itself to
deliberate on the modalities and pace of integration, adding
that through this process, member states would gain a
stronger sense of ownership of any eventual agreement that
emerged.
“In our competitive and increasingly globalized world, it is
crucial that we come together to address the challenges
facing Africa, through close collaboration among African
states, but also between Africa and its international
partners.”
She stressed the need for strong partnerships to reach the
time-bound targets in the Millennium Development Goals and
also resolve and manage Africa’s conflicts.
Dr Migiros said Africa could not win the fight for
development if it did not win the fight for development and
did not stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
“It is simply a pre-requisite for meeting most of the other
MDGs,” she said, adding that, today the number of new cases
was rising faster than the rate at which new treatment was
being offered.
“We must intensify prevention efforts and along with
treatment, care and support for people living with the
disease.”
The Deputy UN Secretary-General also urged the leaders to
commit more attention and resources to women and children.
She noted that it was the first time that an African woman
was addressing an AU Summit on behalf of the UN, before an
audience that included Africa’s first elected woman
President.
“We must do more to ensure that our women take their place
in society, eliminate gender inequalities in primary and
secondary education and ensure free and equal rights for
women to own and inherit property,” she said.
GNA
|
