RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Transcription

1 PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT PARLEMENT PANAFRICAIN البرلمان األفريقي PARLAMENTO PAN-AFRICANO RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMITTEES AT THE 6 th ORDINARY SESSION 2006 (Draft 4) Gallagher Estate, Private Bag X16, Midrand 1685, Gauteng Province, South Africa Tel : (+27) Fax : (+27) Web site : secretariat@panafricanparliament.org 1

2 The Committees of the Pan-African Parliament, during their meetings held in Midrand, Republic of South Africa, from 10 to 19 August 2006, drew up the following Draft Resolutions and Recommendations: COMMITTEE ON RULES, PRIVILEGES AND DISCIPLINE *Recommendation on the Human Rights situation in the Israeli-Lebanese crisis. DEEPLY CONCERNED by the fresh upsurge of hostilities between Israel and its neighbours having led to serious Human Rights violations, BASING ITSELF on its commitment to protect Human Rights, Recommends: 1 To denounce Human Rights violations in that part of the world, 2 To encourage the United Nations to pursue considerable effort to bring an end to them. 2

3 COMMITTEE ON COOPERATION, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS *Recommendation on Peace and Security issues in Africa DEEPLY CONCERNED by issues of Peace and Security in Africa, AWARE OF its objective to promote Peace, Security and Stability in Africa, Recommends that: 1. The evaluation of the impact of the establishment of PAP on the functioning of the AU is carried out, 2. The AU takes into account the role of PAP in the field of election observation missions. * Recommendation on the situation in the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic DEEPLY CONCERNED by the sufferings of the populations of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, CONSIDERING THAT the AU recognises the existence of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and also its status as full Member of the Union, REFERING to Resolution PAP-RES. 010/2006 acknowledging the Right to selfdetermination of the Saharawi people determined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1495 (July 2003), RECOMMANDS that: 1. The AU refers to the Security Council so that it watches over the application of the Resolutions adopted to settle the Western Sahara crisis, 2. Morocco accepts the full membership of Western Sahara within the AU and respects the Resolutions adopted by the United Nations so as to find an amicable solution, 3

4 3. The POLISARIO continues to use diplomatic rather than military means in its search for the Right to self-determination, 4. Foreign contractors working in the Western Sahara region on contracts signed with the Moroccan Government leave the territory and refrain from carrying out acts likely to upset and endanger the Peace process. * Recommendation on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo NOTING that the two-round elections in the DRC and their peaceful holding were to the great satisfaction of the international community, CONCERNED, however about the serious fears remaining, especially after the publication of the second round results, RECOMMENDS that: 1. The various Congolese leaders abide by and accept the election results and refrain from making inflammatory declarations likely to incite the population to violence, 2. The AU and SADC support the Congolese people in its search to isolate and control troublemakers after the holding of elections, 3. Rebel leaders who have not yet put down their weapons do so as soon as possible, 4. The new Government formed as a result of the elections completes the DDR process as soon as possible and starts on the SSR process; 5. The international community gives the necessary support to the post electoral and post conflict reconstruction programme of the Congolese people. 4

5 * Recommendation on the situation in Somalia CONSIDERING the complexity of the present situation in the Horn of Africa characterised by the breaking up of the Transitory Cabinet and the dissolution of the Government by President Abdullahi Yusuf last August, REALISING the recent developments marked by the contribution of the States and organisations of the sub-region and the implications of foreign powers such as the USA, RECOMMENDS that: 1. The African Union convenes a meeting among the President, the Prime Minister, the former TFG and the Islamic Tribunals; 2. The African Union invites the political actors and other external forces (Eritrea, Ethiopia, the United States and Yemen) to work towards resolving the conflict rather than aggravating it, 3. The International Community looks at Somalia not solely through the global fight against terrorism perspective but also tries to get to know the local politics of Somalia better. * Recommendation on the situation in Darfur ANXIOUS about the proliferation and diversity of conflicts on the continent, CONSIDERING Recommendation REC PAP-REC.001/ on Peace and Security issues in Africa and Resolution RES PAP-RES.003/2006 on Human Rights violations of women and children in the Darfur region, REALISING that many rebels in the Darfur region, all factions taken together, are presently based outside Sudan, RECALLING THAT Minawi s SLM faction is at present divided into two branches, that is to say, the one in Khartoum undertaking to implement the Darfur Peace Agreement with the Government of Sudan, and the other campaigning in favour of the suspension of the APD, 5

6 CONSIDERING that the role of international mediators couldn t contribute to restoring peace without associating the local Authorities of Khartoum with certain Western superpowers, RECALLING FURTHERMORE the end of the AU forces mandate at the end of September, RECOMMENDS CONSEQUENTLY that: 1. The sum of 200 million dollars promised during the Donor Conference in Brussels in July 2006 is paid to support the AU Monitoring Mission. 2. Rebel movements join the Darfur Peace Process through the Darfur Consortium and the Declaration of Principles. 3. The Sudanese Government of National Unity honours its undertakings to disarm the Janjaweed and other tribal militias. 4. The Civil Society uses the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue to a maximum so that it is represented in the forum. 5. The International Community supports the AU Monitoring Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and works towards the creation of a UN/AU intervention. * Recommendation on the situation in Cote d Ivoire CONSIDERING Recommendation REC PAP-REC.001/2006 on Peace and Security issues in Africa, CONCERNED by the situation prevailing in Cote d Ivoire and notably the Peace Process that has not improved since then, CONCERNED ALSO ABOUT THE FACT that the burning issues of demobilisation, disarmament and the organisation of elections have not yet been resolved, RECOMMENDS CONSEQUENTLY that: 1. The warring parties abide by the Cease-fire Agreements and refrain from committing acts or making declarations likely to aggravate an already fragile situation. 2. The AU demands the organisation without delay of the disarmament of the various militias concomitantly with the identification process. 6

7 3. The Cote d Ivoire parties set new deadlines at the earliest for presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 30 October. * Recommendations on the United States of Africa Concept CONSIDERING THAT the creation of a United States of Africa is the only solution to the numerous challenges of peace, security and prosperity that the African Continent must take up, ENCOURAGING all the initiatives taken up to now to promote regional integration as a prerequisite for the creation of a United States of Africa, notably that of NEPAD, RECALLING THAT the idea of a United Africa is a dream that every African wants to see achieved, NOTING THAT the African Union, its organs as well as the NEPAD programme properly reflect the structure of an African political and economic community, the core of a continental Government, COMMENDING FURTHERMORE the interest shown about this theme by the Heads of State and Government during the 7 th AU Summit held in Banjul (Gambia) last July, RECOMMENDS that: 1. Regional and National Parliaments carry out an in-depth examination of this theme by sharing out the contents of this study or through similar studies to be realised. 2. An evaluation process of outside influences and interference on the proliferation of conflicts and development in Africa is embarked upon. 3. Actions are taken for a greater visibility of NEPAD with a view to lifting the veil of suspicion hanging over this vast programme of economic and social development of Africa. 7

8 COMMITTEE ON RURAL ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT *Resolution on the search for funding for Committee Action Plan activities. CONSIDERING the Strategic Plan and the Action Plans deriving from it, AWARE that the realisation of the various Committee activities require the mobilisation of considerable funds, DECIDES to: 1 Look for financial support for the Committees Action Plan activities from oilproducing countries. 2 Finance the least expensive Committee activities from the PAP Budget. 3 Look for human resources and expertise from AU Member Countries to identify priority activities. 8

9 COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, INDUSTRY, COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Recommendation for the popularisation of NEPAD activities, the establishment of a working platform and the participation of Committee Members in the various workshops and meetings organised by NEPAD CONSIDERING that the effective and efficient operations of the Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology depend on the execution of the various Action Plan activities, RECALLING that all these activities have been evaluated and they only remain to be executed, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the supervisory mandate of the Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology in relation to the work undertaken by NEPAD, CONSIDERING the difficulties encountered by NEPAD, particularly as concerns policies, regulations, law harmonisation, CONSIDERING that the gap which exists between Developed Countries and the Continent as concerns Research and Development, Science and Technology, Information and Communication Technology will have to be bridged, RECOMMENDS that: 1. NEPAD undertakes the popularisation of its programmes in each Member Country; 2. a working platform on NEPAD actions be established with the PAP Committee Bureaux, at the national, regional and continental level; 3. NEPAD invites Members of the Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology to attend the various workshops and meetings it organises to enable Committee Members to be better informed on how the activities are carried out. 9

10 COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, CULTURE, TOURISM AND HUMAN RESOURCES *Recommendation for the building of a Pan-African Library AWARE of the need to provide the African Continent with a reference library, CONSIDERING the urgency to compile, classify and safeguard the sum total of the knowledge and experience of African intellectuals, ANXIOUS to participate and contribute in the development and promotion of the world of the continent s intellectuals, researchers, academics and historians, RECOMMENDS that: 1 a Main Pan-African Library is built on the Continent s soil. *Recommendation on the organisation of a Pan-African Cultural Day AWARE of the importance of African culture in the education of young Africans, CONSIDERING the integration of African Culture as a subject in national education programmes, RECOMMENDS that: 1. A Pan-African Cultural Day is organised every: * Five years for the Continent; * Two years for the 5 regions of the Continent; * Each year for African Union Member Countries. 2. A promotion campaign on African culture and heritage is initiated, throughout the continent. 10

11 PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON MONETARY AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISION EX.CL./Des98 (v) OF JULY 2004 CLEARLY RECOGNIZING that the Executive Council Decision, EX.CL/Dec 98 (v) of July, 2004, is the biggest challenge faced by the PAP budget implementers and that this has made the work of the PAP very difficult, in that many Members have not been able to attend all Committee sittings and even some Ordinary Session; ACKNOWLEDGING that the Pan-African Parliament s missions to conflict areas can not rely on National Parliaments; and REALISING that the effectiveness and efficiency of the Pan-African Parliament risks being negatively impacted if the Bureau and other Members are not provided with an enabling environment; Therefore Recommends; THAT, the Bureau of PAP originates a paper to present to the Heads of State and Government Summit justifying the need to reconsider the decision Ex CL/Dec 98 (v) of the Executive Council of the African Union, made in Addis Ababa, in July 2004; THAT, PAP issues a letter to National Parliaments informing them that restrictions imposed by the decision EX.CL/Dec 98(v) on payments to Members in the first five years of PAP s existence, compel them to pay per diem, procure medical and personal 11

12 insurance, and air tickets in the business or higher class for their Members until such a time that PAP is mandated and has enough funds to meet all expenses. 12

13 Resolution on the Use of Spanish as a Working Language The PAP, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that the Spanish language was adopted by the African Union as one of the working languages; and AWARE that PAP has Members whose official national language is Spanish; RECOMMENDS; THAT, the Spanish language be officially recognised as one of PAP working languages. 13

14 PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON GENDER, FAMILY, YOUTH AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS In line with its mandate defined under Rule 26(8) of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan African Parliament, the Permanent Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability: CLEARLY RECOGNISING that the issue of migration is very important; ACKNOWLEDGING that the Pan African Parliament needs to play a proactive role in this area; RESOLVES: THAT, in view of the impact that migration has had on the family, youth and people with disability, a Pan African Seminar should be undertaken to look at the issue seriously, to study its root causes and to come up with viable solutions; THAT, the issue of migration should be included on the Agenda of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament, so that all Members are made aware of the problems posed by migration. 14

15 PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON TRADE, CUSTOMS AND MIGRATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS WHEREAS the Committee considered the Report of the Commission on the Strategic Framework for Migration Policy for Africa; COGNISANT of the migration trends and challenges in Africa and their socio-economic and political implications on the integration of Africa; NOTING that, the International Organization on Migration, a leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration, among others promotes international cooperation on migration issues and provides practical solutions to migration problems; BASED on the cooperation, which exists between IOM and AU, in relation to Migration and development in Africa RESOLVE: to table a motion to the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament to declare A DECADE ON MIGRATION IN AFRICA, in order to focus the AU and all its relevant institutions to address and resolve the vexing issue of migration and development in Africa. 15

16 PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS Recommendation on conflict between Israel and Palestine The Pan African Parliament Whereas the conflict between Israel and Palestine is establishing and there is no sign of a just peace in sight; Whereas the suffering of the Palestinian people continues with the continual destruction of infrastructure, means of live hood; Whereas the daily attacks carried out by Israel in GAZA and the West Bank is in clear violation of human rights and the Geneva Conventions; Thus it is hereby recommended: 1. That Israel stop immediately its aggression against the Palestinian people; 2. That Israel breaks down the Abominable Wall which impacts severely but also impacts on the dignity of peace loving people of Israel population; 3. That the United Nations together with the QUAD should bear their responsibility and take seriously the implementation of a just solution and respect the legal rights of Palestinians to establish a sovereign State of Palestine. 16