Assembly/AU/6(XV)
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11.
Between January 2010 and July 2010, the PSC held various briefing sessions
with a view to receiving updates on issues falling under its mandate. Press
statements were issued, in conformity with Rule 32 of the Rules of Procedure of the
PSC, as a record of the discussions and outcomes of the sessions, as shown in
Annex II. Among these sessions were briefings by the Commission on the Year of
Peace and Security in Africa, and the President of the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) on ICRC activities in Africa. There was also a briefing on the
review of the UN Peace Building Commission (UNPBC) by the Permanent
Representative of South Africa to the United Nations in New York, together with the
representatives of Ireland and Mexico in Addis Ababa, in their capacity as the
Facilitators designated by the President of the UN General Assembly to undertake a
review of the UNPBC.
12.
Some other briefings covered the evolving situations in The Comoros, Côte
d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Niger, Republic of Guinea and Somalia, as well as the
development of the African Standby Force. The various briefing sessions and their
respective outcomes are reflected in Annex II attached to this Report.
c)
Other activities falling within the purview of the PSC
(i)
Briefings by the Chairpersons of the PSC to the Permanent
Representatives’ Committee (PRC)
13.
In line with the Conclusions of the Dakar PSC Retreat on the Working
Methods of the PSC, the Chairperson of the PSC for each month briefs the PRC at
the end of his/her chairmanship on the activities undertaken by the PSC during the
month. Notably, the successive Chairpersons of the PSC for the period under
review, namely Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Burundi and Chad briefed the PRC on the
activities undertaken by the PSC during the respective months of the period under
review.
(ii)
Participation of the Chairperson of the PSC in peace and security
related activities
14.
The Republic of Burundi, Chairperson of the PSC for April 2010, participated
in the opening session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa,
on 12 April 2010. The session, among other things, discussed various peace and
security situations in Africa, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between the
PSC and PAP in furtherance of peace in the Continent. The Republic of Burundi
also participated in the AU Workshop on Women and Children in Armed Conflicts in
Africa, held in Kinshasa from 19 to 21 May 2010. The Workshop, which received
presentations from the representatives of the AU Panel of the Wise, high level
officials from the AU Commission and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as
well as from African and international experts, including senior representatives from
the civil society, called for the effects of conflict in Africa on women and children to
be mitigated and for women to play a greater role in the prevention and resolution of
conflicts in the Continent.