Angelina Jolie will be speaking on a panel at the Sandton Convention Centre on violence against women in conflict.
She has been invited by AU Commission head Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The actress, who is a special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, says there’s a global epidemic of violence against women which can no longer be tolerated, and must be addressed.
Every individual in society has a role to play in achieving this change.
The summit has also been dogged with controversy as Sudanese President Omar al Bashir prepares to attend the continental gathering.
Human rights watchdog groups are urging South Africa to meet its obligations as a signatory of the International Criminal Court if al-Bashir arrives.
He is been indicted by that court for alleged war crimes in Darfur and must be arrested by signatories of the Rome Statute.
The friends of Bassiouni Campaign says it will protest outside the convention centre today to seek redress for a South African man of Egyptian descent who has being detained in Egypt.
Sixty-five-year-old Sheikh Abdul Salaam Jad Bassiouni has been held for over six months without charge.
Bassiouni was on his way to his home country in December when he was detained by Egyptian authorities.
They accused him of being part of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, a claim his family denies.
The friends of Bassouni’s Michael Power says the AU is duty-bound to call the Egyptian regime to order.
“It’s aimed at Egyptian delegates who will be present, especially our president, as well as the chairperson of the African Union Commission to make sure that they attend to this matter and are aware of the continued detention of Bassouni.”
