“Reflections on the Emerging African Human Rights System – the African

Governance Architecture (AGA): background, progress, prospects”.

Conference on the African Court and the African Human Rights System, Arusha, Tanzania

9th October 2014By

Brenda Chikwe Mofya,Peace, Security & Governance Advisor, Oxfam

International Liaison Office to the African Union

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OUR WORK WITH THE AU

• OXFAM (1942) is a humanitarian and development agency present in 33 African countries including the most conflict affected countries, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, DRC, Mali, CAR

• 17 Oxfam Affiliates = Oxfam International, Budget: over 1 billion USD; Headed by an African woman: Winnie Biyanyima (Ugandan)

• OI-AU is one of the five OI Advocacy Offices to engage with Multi-lateral Institutions – policies at this level reflect the needs and have positive impact on the lives of those most in need;

• Presence in Addis since 2006 - Bilateral agreement with Ethiopian Gov and MoU with the African Union

• Rationale: Recognition of the AU, particularly key organs such as the Peace and Security Council’s, increasing positive role in realizing social, economic, political and cultural rights of Africans

• Work mainly on Active Citizenship, Peace, Security, Democratic Governance, Gender Justice and humanitarian issues and Extractive Industries.

OUR MANDATE

1/ Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the Union :Capacity building and support for African CSOs as well as facilitation of access to the African Union organs and decision making forums,

2/Direct Engagement of the African Union especially the Peace and Security Council and the African Union Commission’s Departments of P & S, DPA, Burea of the Chairperson,/CIDO, Economic Affairs, Social issues etc3/ RepresentationSupport , contact management and Liaison with the African Union for the whole Oxfam Confederation on a wider range of issues

OUR THEORY OF CHANGESimplified

Change Happens When Citizens and directly affected people are

Informed, Empowered and Enabled to influence Policies

and Practices, and to use mechanisms to Hold their

Leaders Accountable

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Today’s Africa…o There is coloration between political, social and economic trends

and sustainable development, peace, security/stability;

o Governance deficit, unaccountable, corrupt Goverments, unfair elections: Congo, DRC, Zim, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea Bissau, Burkina, Togo, Eq. Guinea, Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria etc….. Leading to never-ending conflicts… More and more threats…

o Internal Political tensions: South Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina, Mali, Egypt, CAR, Togo, Cameroun, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe…

o More and more restriction to CSO space: Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, Zambia, Kenya? AND at the AU…

o But some good practices to be consolidated: Ghana, Senegal, Benin, Botswana, Tunisia, South Africa… Increasing willingness by AU organs and departments to engage with CSOs. Maseru conclusion!

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Context Contn

o Regional Economic Communities (RECs) becoming more powerful with closer link to citizens.. AU seems to be a more long term target.

o Terrorism and religious extremism is on the increase!!!o Out of 10 fastest growing economies, 6 are in Africa!o We will be 2 Billion in 2050 !o Over the next decade, more than $1 trillion in natural resources will be

extracted from the African continent;o Growth… but no visible impact in people’s life…. persisting inequality,

food and basic services… but Poverty will continue to decline;o Anarchist exploitation of mineral resources…No free movt/trade to boost

integrationo Visibly another scramble for Africa – confusion in partnerships China,

EU, USA, Japan… African solutions for African Problems with foreign money;

CURRENT LEADERSHIP….

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o Out of the 120 executive elections held over the continent since 2000, only 1⁄3 (one third) have led to a transfer of power.;

o Of the world’s 30 leaders who have been in power longest, 15 are African! Out of 55 Heads of State, only 2 are female.

o Together, the average age of these leaders is 67. The Gender equation and gap between Africa’s leadership and citizens means young people and women are blocked out of the political process

o Yet about 65% of the total population of Africa is below the age of 35 years, and over 35% are between the ages of 15 and 35 - making Africa the most youthful continent.

o Youthful Population: By 2020, it is projected that out of 4 people in Africa, 3 will be on average 20 years old. BUT our youth remain jobless, highly connected to the world, educated then impatient… and in many cases vulnerable and attracted to extremism;

o War credentials and membership to a political dynasty as prerequisite to leadership – many examples

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No leader in 2013 was deemed worthy of the $5m Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership - the 4th time there has been no winner in the prize’s 7-year history. (Winners must be democratically-elected leaders who have stepped down in the past three years after serving their constitutionally mandated term, and have demonstrated "excellence in office.")

THE EMERGING AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE ARCHITECTURE…..

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The Emerging African Human Rights and Governance Architecture…..

o AU remains the Legitimate Body to setup Continental Frameworks /Standard. It cant be ignored…

o Over the last 12 years, the African Union has raised the normative bar for its member States on Governance, Peace and Security, Economic Justice, Gender Justice etc…

o But ! Decisions taken are poorly implemented: Need of multidimensional pressure including from citizens…

o AU is hugely dependant on external donors

o Oxfam believes that the African Union is a positive force for realizing political, social, economic and cultural rights of Africans

o AGA was the missing link!

IN MOVING FORWARD, SOME IDEAS….

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oPolicy and practice shift of responding to symptoms to tackling roots causes of conflicts; Its more effective and less costly – Need for AGA to be popularized, supported and strengthened;

oFor 2015, AU plans to spend over $ 740 Million on peace & security but less than $ 400 Million on all other programmes together !

oWe need to bring AGA and APSA together;

oWe need to mobilise the citizens and work together! strengthen a People Centred Union through active communication of the programs of the African Union, mobilising and coordinating our work.. Gambia, Addis, Arusha, SA etc of the 17 CSO liaison functions with the AUC based in Addis Ababa, only 3 are African;

oGovernance, Human Rights and economic justice NGOs should interface with the PSC. Livingstone Formula/Maseru conclusions.

oAGA should establish a formal mechanism for interaction with CSOs

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o Work to bridge the gap & interface between the AU governance & similar peace and security pillars/organs in the RECs;

o We must mobilize, coordinate and invest in human potential… Active Citizens to claim accountability;

o We need to consistently and vigorously challenge the notion that human rights and governance are foreign demands. African Solution? Let’s be real and go for effective solutions… no matter who contribute;

o We have to work with ECOSOCC

ARE YOU?