Assembly/AU/Dec.275(XIV) Page 3 both more proactive in considering situations of potential and incipient conflict, while remaining engaged in countries that are emerging from conflict. The Assembly ALSO REQUESTS the PSC to devote special sessions to the theme of Women and Youth in Conflicts. Recognizing that women and children continue to be the most affected by the conflicts that ravage parts of our Continent and recalling the launch of the African Women’s Decade, as decided at the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly, DECLARES that the laudable intentions contained therein should be reinforced by the Declaration of 2010 as the African Year of Peace and Security in Africa, and that its objectives continue to permeate throughout the coming Women’s Decade, reinvigorating and strengthening the attainment of lasting peace, security and prosperity on the Continent; 11. NOTES that, in the next twelve (12) months, seventeen (17) African countries will be celebrating their fiftieth anniversaries as independent states and that these celebrations should mark a new beginning, heralding a new era for the continent, specially through renewed efforts to address the challenge of peace and security; 12. CALLS ON the African countries concerned to seize the opportunity of their respective national days to work with the Commission in carrying out programmes collaboratively in support of the Year of Peace and Security; 13. APPEALS to all AU partners and other stakeholders to extend full support to the AU to ensure the successful celebration of the Year of Peace and Security and ENCOURAGES them to jointly identify with the Commission activities that could be undertaken in this respect; 14. REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to submit to it a progress report on the implementation of the Year of Peace and Security campaign at the next Ordinary Session of the Assembly, through the Executive Council in July 2010. Adopted by the Fourteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 2 February 2010