ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Envoys of the 55 African Union (AU) member states on Tuesday kicked off a meeting over issues related to forced displaced persons in Africa.
The 37th session of Members of the AU Permanent Representatives' Committee (PRC) was held within the framework of the 32nd AU summit slated for Feb. 10 and 11.
The AU summit is expected to focus on issues related to forced displaced persons in Africa, among others.
Held under the theme of "Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa," the two-day PRC session is expected to prepare the agenda of the AU summit with appropriate recommendations for consideration by the AU Executive Council session to be held from Feb. 7-8.
"Normally, as a result of civil wars and other civil strives a lot of Africans are displaced, and some of them have to flee and seek welfare elsewhere," Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, told reporters at the opening of the meeting.
"As a result of that, you see signs of young men because of loss of hope, walking along the Sahara, getting drowned ... sinking of vessels, they die; so, the AU's focus this year is issues related to statelessness and displaced persons, a lot of them have to do with issues of good governance, human rights and democracy," Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, told reporters at the opening of the meeting.
According to Quartey, the summit also looks at the ongoing administrative and financial reform of the AU.
"The AU have been following administrative and financial reforms; you know, a reform is a continuing process, and so, the AU at this summit also looks at the aspects of reform, which are not yet completed," the deputy chairperson added.
