Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 November 2011 15:18 Written by Communications Monday, 14 June 2010 12:15
Background
The Pan-African Parliament, based in Midrand, South Africa, was formally inaugurated on 18 March 2004. National delegations, made up of five Parliamentarians each, include a minimum of one woman member. The PAP provides a common platform for Parliamentarians, who represent the African people, to participate in discussions and decision-making regarding the problems facing the continent. The Parliament's committees strive to harmonise policies and laws across Africa. The PAP is headed by The Bureau, including the President and four Vice-Presidents. For more information, please visit the PAP website.
Objectives
To discuss and make recommendations on its own and the African Economic Community's budgetTo work towards the harmonisation of the laws of Members StatesTo provide an oversight role of the activities of all AU institutionsTo promote respect for human rights, consolidation of democratic institutions, good governance and the rule of law.
Results
The Bureau and Committees leadership have a better understanding of the African Union, its organs, and the various departments in the African Union Commission.The Bureau and Members have gained an increased understanding of their oversight role as laid out in the Protocol, and where and how they can exercise their oversight power. A resolution on the eradication of FGM/C arising from the 2009 conference "Women's Platform for Action on FGM" was tabled at the African Union Head of State Summit in 2010.A draft booklet focusing on the role of Parliamentarians in the fight against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) was developed. The staff has acquired professional competencies and clear knowledge of management processes.Through the production of the various publications, members, staff and national parliaments are better informed about PAP, its structures, functioning and activities.
Activities
Capacity Builidng Workshop on Climate Change, 25-27 July, Magaliesburg, South AfricaConsultative Dialogue on the Review of the Protocol of the Pan African Parliament and the Ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 15-16 July, Kampala
The PAP held a series of consultative meetings on the transformation and the ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. AWEPA supported the meetings held in Kampala for the Eastern Regional Caucus in July and in Zimbabwe for the Southern Regional Caucus in September. A report on the process of transformation was presented at both meetings outlining the fundamental issues to be considered in the process of the review of the Protocol.
The meetings focused on the content and approval of African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The Charter is inspired by the principles of good governance, popular participation, the rule of law and human rights that are contained in the AU's Constitutive Act. The process of ratification has been slow and participating parliamentarians were encouraged to lobby their governments to ratify the Charter.
At the PAP meeting, Hon Brendan Howlin, AWEPA Vice-President and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Ireland, made a presentation on the process followed in European Parliaments around the ratification of decisions, laws and conventions.
The Pan-African Parliament, based in Midrand, South Africa, was formally inaugurated on 18 March 2004 to serve as a consultative body to the African Union Commission. National delegations, made up of five Parliamentarians each, represent the majority of African Union Member states. The PAP provides a common platform for Parliamentarians, who represent the African people, to participate in discussions and decision-making regarding the problems facing the continent. The Parliament's committees strive to harmonise policies and laws across Africa. The ultimate aim of PAP is to become an institution made up of democratically elected individuals who will have full legislative powers. Read More...
Donors
Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs via The Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa
