Addis Ababa, 16 August 2018:  The African Union Commission wishes to communicate that the High-Level Committee established, last June, by the Chairperson of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to investigate allegations of harassment against women staff members of the Commission is continuing its work. At the request of its members, the Committee was given additional time to finalize its report, which will be submitted by September 2018. This investigation is being conducted transparently and independently, and its findings and recommendations will be published.

It should be recalled that the High-Level Committee is composed as follows: Bineta Diop, Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security; Lucy Asuagbor, Member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights in Africa; and Tujilane Rose Chizumila, Judge at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Committee is tasked to look into the overall issue of harassment within the Commission. Therefore, and contrary to some media reports, its mandate is not focused on any particular individual.

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