[vc_row][vc_column][dfd_heading style=”style_01″ title_font_options=”tag:h5″ subtitle_font_options=”tag:h3|color:%23000000″ subtitle=”25 & 26 March – 11 – 14h EAT”]Theme: Enhancing Solidarity towards Building the Africa We Want[/dfd_heading][vc_single_image image=”15180″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://bit.ly/3louWcw”][vc_column_text]Africans Rising is hosting a two-day regional convening in East Africa to discuss women’s leadership and empowerment, COVID-19, movement building, climate and environmental justice, and defending civic space.

The convening for North, South & East Africa is one of one such convening to be held which would draw participation from across the regions, the continent and the diaspora.[/vc_column_text][vcmp_buttons vcmp_button_type=”flat-button-medium” vcmp_button_text=”Register here” vcmp_button_url=”https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hHFtDNbOT6mY9PzKIrmKhQ” vcmp_button_target_url=”_blank” vcmp_button_icon_show=”vcmp-icon-show” vcmp_button_icon=”adtheme-icon-pencil” vcmp_button_border_type=”vcmp-border-round” vcmp_button_text_color=”#ffffff” vcmp_button_background_color=”#008800″][vc_column_text]In the course of the convening, delegates will spend time discussing the major themes which define the focus of Africans Rising, in order to determine the progress made so far on key commitments of the movement, and also outline the lessons learnt.[/vc_column_text][dfd_heading delimiter_settings=”border-bottom-style:double;|border-bottom-width:1px;|width:100px;|border-bottom-color:#008800;” style=”style_02″ title_font_options=”tag:h5|color:%23008800″ subtitle_font_options=”tag:h3″]About[/dfd_heading][vc_column_text]On 23 – 24 August 2016, two hundred and seventy-two representatives from civil society, trade unions, women, young people, men, people living with disabilities, parliamentarians, media organisations and faith-based groups, from across Africa and the African diaspora gathered in Arusha, Tanzania, and committed to build a pan-African movement that recognises the rights and freedoms of our People. In fulfilment of the commitment made at the ‘Arusha Conference,’ (as it is now commonly referred to, or say the Validation Conference), Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity was launched on 25th May, 2017, by individuals and organizations across the continent and the African diaspora. Africans Rising is today a collective of about 400 organizations and 10,000 individual members.

Since the 25th  May, 2017 launch, and in pursuit of the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the Kilimanjaro Declaration, (the founding charter for Africans Rising), we have engaged in series of actions geared toward advancing the liberation struggle of the peoples of Africa – in different countries across the continent, at the continental level and the diaspora. From strategic convening to solidarity missions, resource mapping and alliance building, Africans Rising continues to employ creative approaches in amplifying the efforts and initiatives of activists who are working tirelessly on the ground to build the Africa We Want. We, undoubtedly, have very many success stories to tell!

It is also true too, however, that all across the continent, we continue to witness the shrinking of civic spaces, while the disposition of far too many of our political leaders is far from encouraging.  We continue to witness a drastic curtailment of the freedom of association, assembly and expression in far too many countries across the continent. The shrinking political and civic space, heightened levels of corruption and growing levels of inequality have been described as the markers of post-independence democracy on the African continent, and this, obviously, is still very true today. The task before us remains yet huge, and the obstacles many.

The convening is, essentially, expected to provide a space for civil society actors in East, South & North Africa, who have been previously engaged with Africans Rising – from the Arusha Conference of 2016 to the several other engagements (such as the annual #25May mobilization, solidarity mission, et cetera) – and those who are envisaged to be engaged with Africans Rising in a not-too-distant future (based on a pedigree of strong commitment to the liberation struggle of the African peoples), to reflect on the journey so far, with particular regards to the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the Kilimanjaro Declaration, while also mapping out pathways in moving ahead – toward the actualization of our shared vision of an African society with inclusive democracy and shared prosperity.[/vc_column_text][vcmp_buttons vcmp_button_type=”flat-button-medium” vcmp_button_text=”Register here” vcmp_button_url=”https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hHFtDNbOT6mY9PzKIrmKhQ” vcmp_button_target_url=”_blank” vcmp_button_icon_show=”vcmp-icon-show” vcmp_button_icon=”adtheme-icon-pencil” vcmp_button_border_type=”vcmp-border-round” vcmp_button_text_color=”#ffffff” vcmp_button_background_color=”#008800″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vcmp_heading vcmp_heading_type=”double-line-middle” vcmp_heading_text=”Speakers and Moderators” vcmp_heading_text_color=”#008800″ vcmp_heading_line_color=”#008800″][vcmp_gallery vcmp_gallery_columns=”2″ vcmp_gallery_background_color=”#ffffff” vcmp_gallery_font_color=”#383838″ vcmp_gallery_a_color=”#383838″ vcmp_gallery_over_color=”#8a8a8a” vcmp_gallery_images=”15276,15280,15273,15275,15272,15277,15274,15278,15282,15284,15279,15286,15283,15281,15285,15287″][/vc_column][/vc_row]