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PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
PARLEMENT PANAFRICAIN
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PARLAMENTO PAN-AFRICANO
COMMUNIQUE
THIRD PAN AFRICAN SPEAKERS CONFERENCE
HELD IN MIDRAND - SOUTH AFRICA
17 – 18 TH OCTOBER 2O11
We the Speakers of Member Parliaments of the African Union
meeting on 17 and 18 October 2011 for the Third Speakers’
Conference at the Pan African Parliament – Midrand South
Africa:
Guided by Article 2 (3) of the Protocol establishing the PAP
which indicates that the ultimate aim of the PAP shall be to evolve
into an institution with legislative powers in defined domains;
Cognizant of the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the Pan
African Parliament as an oversight body by giving it legislative
powers; Committed to implementing the AU Decision to review the
Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community
relating to the Pan African Parliament; Encourage all Parliaments
to ratify all the Decisions passed by the African Union Heads of
State and Governments; Are alarmed at the famine in Somalia and the
scale of human suffering; Plead as a consequence of the famine to
all Governments and the Peoples in Africa to mobilize human,
technical and financial resources to assist the people in Somalia;
Express gratitude to the African Union, Governments, peoples, and
aid agencies currently working in Somalia,
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Emphasize the need for one African voice in addressing the
challenges currently affecting Africa including famine, issues of
governance, and climate change; Reaffirms the oversight
responsibility of Parliaments towards the achievement of Millennium
Development Goals including those pertaining to maternal health and
child mortality; Taking note of the progress made on the Review of
the Protocol establishing the PAP; Now, therefore, we, the Speakers
of national, regional and continental Parliaments of AU member
states meeting in Midrand, South Africa on the 18th October 2011
hereby resolve as follows;
1. On the Review of the Protocol establishing the PAP That the
Regional and National Parliaments of the African Union Member
States affirm their support for the review of the Protocol
establishing the PAP and acknowledge the significance of the
outcome of the process towards democratization of Africa;
That Speakers in national Parliaments sensitize their respective
National Parliaments on the issues of convergence as agreed by the
different stakeholders including the sovereign equality principle;
membership to the PAP; female membership, length of tenure, and
legislative powers.
2. On the Ratification of the African Charter on Democracy,
Elections and Governance Mindful of the need to have 15
ratifications by the end of 2011 to bring the African Charter into
force;
Applauding the member states that have ratified to date,
Recognizing the need to have two additional signatures to reach
the required number of ratifications;
Resolve that the Speakers through appropriate structures become
Champions in their national Parliaments to ensure speedy signing
and ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and
Governance by the end of 2011.
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3. On the Global Power Women Network
That Parliaments are sensitized to the objectives of the Global
Power Women Network- an initiative seeking to ensure the
achievement of Millennium Development goals pertaining to women and
children
4. On Africa’s Position on Climate Change
Mindful of the role of Parliaments in representing the peoples
of Africa,
Aware of the AU position on climate change;
Concerned on the progress to date on issues of climate change
and the approach of developed countries on the matter;
Further Cognizant of the forthcoming meeting in Durban in
2012;
Resolve that all Speakers conscientize national Parliaments on
the need to have a position which focuses on accepting the Kyoto
principles; establish an adaptation Committee; and focus on the
financial commitments to Africa;
5. On Youth Empowerment and Maternal and Child Health
Cognizant of the resolution passed by the Pan African Parliament
on 13 October 2011:
Resolve to adopt the resolution to prioritize policy and budget
support for implementation of African Union Summit Decisions, in
particular the Malabo July 2011 Summit Decision on the Summit theme
of “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development; and
the Kampala July 2010 Summit Declaration on the Summit theme of
“Actions on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Development in
Africa”
End.