10:00 a.m., Plenary Hall, Old AU Conference Centre                                                                                                                                            MEDIA ADVISORY Press Briefing: The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, the Executive Director of UN WOMEN and the Co-Chair of the AU Network of Women Mediators (FemWise), to brief the media on their joint mission to South Sudan Representatives of the media in Addis Ababa are invited to cover the press briefing of the joint African Union (AU) – United Nations (UN) High-Level Delegation, following their field mission to South Sudan. What: The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Amb. Smail Chergui, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Executive Director for UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and the Co-Chair of the AU Network of Women Mediators (FemWise), Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, are undertaking a joint mission to South Sudan from 07 – 09 October 2018 where they are expected to be received by the President of the Republic of South Sudan, the First Vice President, the Council of Ministers and other high-level government officials of the South Sudan Transitional Government of National Unity. The joint African Union (AU) – United Nations (UN) mission will provide an opportunity for the high-level delegation to commend the South Sudanese stakeholders for signing the Peace Agreement on 12 September 2018 and will encourage them to faithfully implement it. More specifically, the visit will focus on tangible actions and re-emphasize the significance of elevating, safeguarding and ensuring women’s meaningful participation and leadership in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. It is critical for the South Sudanese authorities to meet the 35% quota for women’s leadership as enshrined in the governance arrangements and towards greater accountability. The AU – UN high-level delegation will equally meet with communities and women leaders and organizations, including from the protection of civilian (POCs) sites in Juba and in Bentiu, where they will undertake a field visit. Following the joint mission to South Sudan, the AU – UN high-level delegation will travel to Addis Ababa where they will brief the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) to build on the momentum of the AU PSC’s recent mission to South Sudan; and to further advocate at the highest political level the imperative of prioritizing women’s participation in the political processes and honoring the affirmative action provisions to achieve sustainable peace in South Sudan. When: 11:30am – 12:00pm EAT, Wednesday 10 October 2018; Where: Briefing Room, New Conference Centre (NCC), African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa; Who: The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Amb. Smail Chergui, the United Nations (UN) Undersecretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Executive Director of UN WOMEN, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and the Co-Chair of the AU Network of Women Mediators (FemWise), Dr. Speciosa Wandira K., will brief the media in Addis Ababa. Why: Within the UN – AU Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, the joint mission aims: 1)  To re-emphasize to South Sudan leadership the importance of the implementation of the WPS commitments and women’s provisions within the implementation of the peace agreement and the political solutions. 2)  To leverage the necessary political momentum at the national and regional levels to prioritize and operationalize the provisions and commitments for women in the peace agreement at all levels of the implementation of the political and peace process, in the ongoing negotiations and dialogue. 3)  To advocate for a more preventive and protective environment for women and girls against targeted attacks and reprisals, including sexual violence, as an enabler for women’s meaningful participation. For more information please contact:                                                                                                 Mr. Paschal Chem-Langhee Communication Officer Peace and Security Department African Union Commission Email: Chem-LangheeP@africa-union.org Ms. Edda Zekarias Public Information Officer United Nations Office to the African union (UNOAU) Email: zekarias2@un.org Helen Yosef Hailu Programme Specialist Advocacy, Strategic Partnership and Communications UN Women Email: helen.yosef@unwomen.org   African Union (AU) Peace and Security Department Conflict Management Division Tel. No. : +251-115-513 822 Fax: +251-115-519 321 E-mail: situationroom@africa-union.org or situationroom@ausitroom-psd.org Follow us on twitter: @AU_PSD @UNOAU_ Like us on Facebook: Peace & Security Dept. of the African Union Commission