Assembly/AU/ 6 (X)I Page 11 national human resource development plans. The Leadership role of the AU Commission in this venture is well recognized and lauded by all stakeholders. 5. The African Union Continental Workshop to Harmonise/ Develop, and Institutionalize the Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality Reviews (Including Mortality Assessment Tools) and Accelerate the Implementation of Recommendations – Towards Meeting MDGs 4 and 5 Johannesburg, South Africa, 13th -16th April 2008 Consistent with the mandate entrusted to it by the Assembly, the AU Commission, in collaboration with the Government of South Africa and other Partners, organized the aforementioned Continental Workshop on maternal, newborn and child mortality reviews in Africa. The Workshop had the following objectives: o AU Member States to share country experiences on improving coverage and quality of priority Maternal, Newborn and Child health intervention. o AU Member States to share experiences on Institutionalization of Mortality Review Processes to improve quality of health care. o AU Member States to develop and agree on steps escalation of Implementation with Measurable targets. on accelerating and o Mobilization of coordinated and harmonized support by Development Partners, NGOs and CSOs. In the course of the Workshop, the representatives of Member States and partner agencies and civil society organizations reviewed progresses made, challenges encountered and the way forward in reducing maternal, infant and child mortality in Africa in the context of MDGs 4 and 5. Discussion themes ranged from confidential enquiries to maternal death, promotion of child survival strategies and reduction of infant mortality. Experiences and best practices from a number of countries were shared; and in spite of the formidable challenges faced by many of the African countries, participants expressed hope that it is possible to collectively achieve the MDGs within the agreed upon time limit, 2015. Based on the provisions of the Africa Health Strategy 2007-2015, which was endorsed by the AU Heads of States and Government in July 2007, the Maputo Plan of Action on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa (2006); the WHO/Afro (2004) Roadmap for accelerating the reduction of maternal and neonatal the Child Survival Strategy and others, as well as other regional and continental instruments, the Workshop forwarded some key cross-cutting recommendations. The participants believed that these recommendations, if accepted, will help strengthen “Africa’s Movement to improve Maternal Health and Promote Child Survival and Development in Africa Beyond 2015.” These include: On Gender Equality the participants recommended for the constitutional enshrinement of the full rights of women and girls to equal access to political, economic and social status. This will create an enabling environment for the improvement of maternal health and promote child survival and development. It will further accelerate the development of Africa.