Communique of the 678th PSC Meeting on Preventing ideology of genocide in Africa MyZA

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Communique of the 678th PSC Meeting on Preventing ideology of genocide in Africa:

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 678th meeting held on 11 March 2017, received a briefing on the prevention of hate crimes and the ideology of genocide in Africa and adopted the following decision:

Council:

– Takes note of the briefings made by the Director of the Department of Political Affairs at the AU Commission, Dr. Khabele Matlosa and by the Executive Secretary of the Rwanda National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide, Dr. Bizimana Jean Damascene. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of Ethiopia, in its capacity as an African Member of the United Nations Security Council, the United States of America, the European Union and the United Nations ;

Recalls the horror of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and reiterates its commitment to prevent the recurrence of similar mass atrocities, hate crime and ideologies of genocides throughout the African continent. In this context, Council underlines the imperative of early and appropriate responses to credible early warning signs of situations that, if not addressed in a timely and effective manner, could lead to potential genocides. In the same context, Council also underlines the importance of use of clear analysis and proper terminology in order to avoid falling into the problem of denials;

– Also recalls all international and African instruments on the prevention of genocide, including the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, the 1981 African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the AU Constitutive Act, the 2006 AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy Framework and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2150 (2014). Council further recalls Assembly decision Assembly/AU/Dec.501 (XXII), in which the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government declared 2014-2024 as the Madiba Nelson Mandela Decade of Reconciliation. In the same context, Council also recalls the 2000 Report of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities that was appointed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity to investigate the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the surrounding events, which provides a framework of principles, strategies and policies, that, if followed, could create conditions in which genocide will become both, unthinkable and impossible to organize;

– Acknowledges that deliberate tendencies of discrimination, marginalization, tribalism and manipulation of ethnicity often create conducive conditions for hate crimes and ideologies of genocide to thrive. In this regard, Council urges Member States, which have not yet done so, to establish necessary legal frameworks, in order to prevent violent conflicts, discrimination, hate crimes and genocide. Council also urges Member States to establish effective national infrastructures for peace as part of efforts to prevent mass atrocities. Council further urges Member States to address all root causes of hate crimes and ideologies of genocide;

– Recognizes that, in the African traditional and cultural settings, most families keep various types of household tools, including spears and machettes, for peaceful use. However, Council deplores and strongly condemns the diversion of use of these household tools to commit organized and systematic violence against particular sections of societies, including genocidal acts;

– Stresses the importance of promoting civic awareness, consciousness and the culture of peace as well as in preventing hate crimes and genocide. Council also stresses the need for deepening democracy, participatory and inclusive governance which is premised on national dialogue, consensus and, as much as possible, power sharing. In this context, Council re-affirms the importance of working towards an equitable and inclusive socio-economic development, as well as long-term structural transformation aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people;

– Welcomes the efforts by those Member States, which are investigating and prosecuting individuals who were involved in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and calls upon all the other Member States, which have not yet done so, to also investigate, arrest, prosecute or extradite the genocide fugitives currently residing in their territories, including the leaders of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). In the same context, Council condemns denial and distortion of facts relating to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda;

– Acknowledges the important role that the media can play in efforts aimed at promoting social cohesion and nation-building, as well as peace and stability in Member States and stresses the need for responsible and balanced media reporting;

– Decides to convene, annually in April, a PSC open meeting on hate crimes and fighting genocide ideology in Africa; and

– Decides to remain actively seized of the matter

Distributed by APO on behalf of African Union Peace and Security Department.

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Hilton eyes North African expansion with new Casablanca Office:

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) (www.Hilton.com) has signalled its intention to ramp up its expansion in North Africa with the establishment of a dedicated development office in Casablanca.

Building on an active pipeline in the region, which has grown to 15 hotels across Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, Hilton has identified North Africa as a focus area for further growth. Its office is located in Casablanca, the city where it announced its debut hotel earlier this year, Hilton Garden Inn Casablanca Sidi Maarouf.

Carlos Khneisser, vice president, development, MENA Hilton said: “Having a dedicated presence in the market is important for us in order to sustain further growth. We pride ourselves on forging strong relationships with owners and being present on the ground is the best way to achieve this. We have almost 5,000 rooms under development in North Africa at this stage but with the majority of those being in Egypt there is a great opportunity for us to expand our presence more widely across the region.”

Having worked within Hilton’s Development team in Dubai, Feras Hasbini takes on responsibility of spearheading Hilton’s growth in North Africa and will now be located in Casablanca. Hasbini said: “It is very exciting to focus on North Africa at a time where we are beginning to make real strides in terms of our positioning in the market. We are bringing a portfolio of world-class brands to the region with new offerings at every sector of the market. From the mid-scale Hilton Garden Inn to our Upper Upscale collection brand Curio, our brands are ideally suited to North Africa and owners have more opportunities to work with us than ever before.”

Distributed by APO on behalf of Hilton.

Feras Hasbini can be reached at feras.hasbini@hilton.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Huw Harrow
Hilton – EMEA
huw.harrow@hilton.com
+971 (0) 56 416 1323

About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) (www.Hilton.com) is a leading global hospitality company, with a portfolio of 14 world-class brands comprising more than 4,900 properties with over 800,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. Hilton is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company by delivering exceptional experiences – every hotel, every guest, every time. The company's portfolio includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton Honors. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose exactly how many Points to combine with money, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Visit www.Newsroom.Hilton.com for more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/hiltonnewsroom), Twitter (https://twitter.com/hiltonnewsroom), LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/hilton), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hiltonnewsroom), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/hiltonnewsroom).

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