Invitation to contribute to the ECA Meeting in Addis Ababa

[Dr. Sabina Anokye Mensah]

Dear Colleagues,

As part of Africa's preparation for Rio +20, I am pleased to invite comments/statements etc for the Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for Rio+20 organised jointly with the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank and in partnership with the Regional Economic Communities, UNEP and UNDESA and the UNDP. Considering the cross-cutting nature of sustainable development, the conference will bring together experts from relevant government institutions, the private sector and civil society organisations and international development partners. It will offer an opportunity for broadbased interface among stakeholders and also a chance to tie together the different threads of sustainable development issues in a coherent manner. The conference is expected among other things, to adopt the Africa Consensus Statement to Rio +20 and agree on a draft resolution on the Consensus Statement for consideration by the African Union Summit of January 2012. We would be grateful if women could contribute their views/concerns towards the achievement of the objectives.

I have the honour to refer to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) otherwise known as Rio +20 to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012. The objective of the conference is to assess progress to date, secure renewed political commitment to address the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development , and to address new and emerging challenges. The conference is expected to be attended at the highest political level, and result in a focussed political document. I also wish to refer to Decision 381 (XVII) of the assembly of the African Union taken at Malabo in July 2011 on Africa's preparations for Rio +20.

Thank you in anticipation.

Dr Sabina Anokye Mensah

Food Scientist

Voices of African Mothers

[KENMEUGNE MOTCHEBOUNG OLIVIA]

On the occasion of 20 RIO I propose that, women of the world, especially Africa, to start the project "Women, 7 billion of action against climate change. All women should make proposals and recommendations for regulate the climate today. I propose that the tracks of reflection should be focused on environmental education, environmental entrepreneurship, sustainable development, sustainable tourism, environmental engineering etc.