Strengthening the African Family for Inclusive Development in Africa

The upcoming Fourth Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Social Development (CAMSD4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 26 to 30 MAY 2014 will provide the opportunity to examine how to strengthen the family and discuss in detail two critical family-oriented policies and instruments – children and social protection systems; and a draft protocol on the rights and welfare of older persons. These two issues are germane to advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity within the family.

As the protection and promotion of women, children, the youth and older persons which is the core function of the family, are top priorities in the post 2015 development agenda, adding families to these priorities, would be a major step forward in the direction of empowerment and reduction of inequality.

The expected outcomes of the Conference are the following:

- Identification of effective policies, strategies and programmes that strengthen the family;
- A draft Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the implementation of the AU Plan of Action on the Family;
- Endorsement of the Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa;
- A draft Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the implementation of the Continental Plan of Action on the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2010-2019);
- Agenda for scaling up of social protection for children.