14 04 14 AI – Please Support this campaign for President Obama to include CSOs in the forthcoming U.S-Africa Summit on 5-6 August 2014.

President Obama’s announcement has been met with skepticism and a subdued level of enthusiasm, as many in the international human rights and democracy promotion communities view U.S. policy towards Africa as lacking in focus, creativity, and a genuine commitment to uphold basic freedoms.
 
The period between now and 17 April offers you a rare opportunity to shape the future U.S policy on Africa for it to demonstrate a genuine commitment to uphold basic freedoms. However in order for this to happen, please read this letter and if you are in support of the idea please contact Jeffrey Smith on: smith@rfkcenter.org or Arthur Gwagwa on intlo@hrforumzim.com Our Washington DC partners intend to send the letter to President Obama on 18 April.
 
Should you have any questions or concerns we will be happy to chat with you.

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Dear
Mr. President:

We
welcome your decision to host the first ever U.S. Africa Leaders
Summit this August in Washington, DC. The Summit is an important step
in your administration’s efforts to engage more constructively with
a host of leaders from across Africa. Most importantly, we believe it
offers an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill your commitment to
stand in support of civil society organizations and individuals on
the front lines of advancing human rights and democratic change.

At
the United Nations General Assembly in September 2013, you were
unequivocal in your support for civil society freedoms, and we write
to you today to ensure that this ideal plays a major role in the
Summit agenda. The U.S. Africa Leaders Summit is a crucial platform
to highlight your commitment to integrating human rights and good
governance concerns into our relations with African countries, much
as we do in other regions of the world.

Across
Africa, attacks on human rights have become increasingly evident. A
spate of repressive laws, including limits to peaceful protest and
restrictions on the independence of NGOs, as well as outright
violence, intimidation, and harassment are the latest indicators of
this trend. By providing official space during the Summit for
participation from African civil society activists, you will send a
strong and clear message that the U.S. considers these independent
voices to be an equally vital part of the conversation.

We
look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your staff on
how best to integrate civil society voices and human rights concerns
into the official Summit program. We are readily available to help
identify potential participants and key issues to address.

Thank
you very much for your time and for your attention to this important
issue.

Sincere
regards,

Amnesty
International

Freedom
House

Open
Society Foundations

Robert
F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights