JOINT MEDIA ADVISORY ADDIS ABABA HOSTS 14TH ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN FIRST LADIES AGAINST HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) Addis Ababa Ethiopia, 31 January 2015 - The 14th OAFLA Ordinary General Assembly of the African Union, opened at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 30th January under the theme: “Enhancing partnerships to create an enabling environment to achieve: the end of AIDS by 2030 and to empower women in their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights”. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the OAFLA General Assembly, H.E. Mrs. Hinda Deby Itno, First Lady of the Republic of Chad and Chairperson of OAFLA encouraged partnerships and continuous facilitation for treatment with concerned organizations to end new HIV/AIDS infections among women and children. H.E. Mrs. Roman Tesfaye, First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in her welcome remarks underlined the fact that First Ladies of the AU Member Sates are uniquely positioned to advocate for women and girls, especially in the areas of health, education, enterpreneurship and economic opportunity. She called on the First Ladies to exert maximum effort along their partnering instiutions so as to seek lasting solutions to major social and economic problems of women and children. “The continent has made significant strides in its efforts towards the prevention of mother to child transmission and seeking to Eliminate Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV.” She underscored. Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission E mail: [email protected] 2 H.E. Dr. Mustapha Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission on his part stated that the partnership with OAFLA would ensure that women and girls can live in an HIV free society, have access to HIV care and treatment; most importantly they will cease from being the face of HIV/AIDS in Africa. “Together, we need to diversify and strengthen partnerships with NGOs, CSOs, private sector and the international community by ensuring that we avert maternal mortality, we eliminate new HIV Infections of mother to child transmission, end Child Marriage and realize gender equality for women, who happen to be the real builders of our continent.” He emphacised. Other key speakers present at the included the Representatives of UNAIDS, UNFPA and Mr. Ban Soon-Taek, Spouse of UN Secretary General. The declarations to guide the work of the OAFLA was adopted today 31st January 2015 by the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union. RA/BM/NB For inquiries, contact: Rahel Akalewold | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: Rahel [email protected] Nardos Berhanu, Communications Officer, OAFLA Secretariat: [email protected] Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission E mail: [email protected]