The Second Parliamentary
Dialogue with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Civil Society Forum convened was
on June 29, 2024 at the Parliament precincts in Midrand, South Africa. This
significant event took place on the sidelines of the Third Ordinary Session of
the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament, reinforcing the commitment
to enhancing civil society engagement in the legislative processes of the
Pan-African Parliament.
The PAP Civil Society
Forum was moderated by the Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament, Ms.
Lindiwe Khumalo.
Purpose and Background
The Pan-African
Parliament, established under Article 17 of the Constitutive Act of the African
Union, aims to ensure the effective participation of the peoples of Africa in
the development and economic integration of the continent. Since its inception
in August 2018, the PAP Civil Society Forum has served as a critical platform
for coordination, cross-pollination, and harmonization of civil society
efforts, ensuring meaningful and constructive engagement with the PAP. This
dialogue provides a space for civil society actors to voice their perspectives
and recommendations on key thematic issues under consideration by the PAP
Plenary, such as peace and security in Africa and the implementation of the
African Union theme for 2024
The 2024 dialogue
focused on several key issues pertinent to the continent, including peace and
security, the implementation of the African Union's 2024 theme, and the human
rights situation across Africa. The event provided a structured opportunity for
civil society actors to present their views and recommendations directly to the
PAP members, aiming to influence the resolutions adopted by the parliament.
Objectives
The dialogue sought to
achieve the following objectives:
1. To have a
discussion with members of PAP on the progress of the implementation of the
recommendations of CSO Forum during the Parliamentary Dialogue in 2023.
2. To access the
impact of civil society engagement on policy development and implementation
within the Pan-African Parliament.
3. To identify
challenges and opportunities for enhancing collaboration between Civil Society Organizations
and the Pan-African Parliament.
4. To develop
strategies for increasing the visibility and accessibility of the Pan-African
Parliament’s work to the broader public and civil society stakeholders.
Opening Session
The dialogue commenced
with an opening session featuring several notable speakers:
Mr. William Carew, Head of Secretariat of the Economic, Social
and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), emphasized the importance of continuous
dialogue between parliamentarians and civil society for advancing the
continental development agenda. He noted that such engagements
promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in governance and
emphasized that civil society's on-the-ground knowledge enriches the policy development
process, ensuring that policies are well-informed and effective.
Ms. Bonolo Makgale, Programme Manager at the Centre for Human
Rights, University of Pretoria, and Convenor of the PAP CSO Forum, provided
opening remarks highlighting the significance of civil society contributions
The keynote address was
delivered by Hon. Jessie Majome, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human
Rights Commission. She underscored the critical role of civil society in
promoting human rights, peace, and security in Africa, and reflected on the
progress made since the first parliamentary dialogue in 2023. He highlighted
the importance of human rights from an African perspective and the necessity
for African institutions and civil society to collaborate in articulating and
advocating these rights. and stressed the imperative for PAP member states to
ratify African Union treaties and implement recommendations from previous
dialogues to strengthen human rights, peace, security, and democratic
governance across the continent
Key Discussions
The dialogue included an
extensive discussion session facilitated by Ms. Achieng Akena and Dr.
Remember Miamingi. The participants deliberated on various pressing issues:
- State of Peace and Security in Africa: Highlighting ongoing conflicts and the need for
enhanced collaboration to foster peace.
- Formalized and Deepened CSO Engagement with PAP: Emphasizing the importance of sustained and
structured interactions between civil society and the PAP.
- State of Human Rights in Africa: Addressing human rights violations, particularly in
conflict zones, and the disproportionate impact on marginalized groups.
- African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA): Discussing the implications of free movement of
persons and the rights of residence and establishment.
- African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Evaluating protocols related to social protection and
security.
- Election of Judges to the African Court on Human and
Peoples’ Rights: Ensuring transparency and
adherence to human rights standards in judicial appointments
Closing Remarks and
Future Directions
The dialogue concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Sammy Obeng, Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) who on behalf of the Civil Society Organizations, underscored the importance of the relationship between the Civil Society and Pan-African Parliament, which he said, is rooted in shared common objectives and Agenda. He assured of the commitment of the Civil Society in working with Pan-African Parliament to achieve a common goal. The Chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Pan-African Parliament in his remarks, also reiterated the importance of the PAP-CSO dialogues and encouraged continued engagement to address the continent's challenges collectively.
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