The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) is organizing, with the financial support of the Italian Government through the joint Italy-Africa Peace Facility and within the framework of the Pro-Electoral Integrity project (https://pro-electoralintegrity.eu/), a validation workshop by the organs of the African Union, the Economic and Regional Communities, the Regional Mechanisms and the Member States, of the African Union Guidelines on Constitutional Reviews in Africa.

The workshop, scheduled for 17-18 October 2022 in Niamey, Niger, to finalise the draft guidelines, is in line with the Accra Declaration of March 2022 on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa and the decision of the Malabo Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, held on 28 May 2022, which recommended the finalisation of the guidelines for use by Member States.

The validation workshop in Niamey will bring together representatives of the organs of the African Union, the Economic and Regional Communities and Regional Mechanisms, high-level experts, and practitioners to validate the draft Guidelines for submission to the decision-making bodies of the African Union. These guidelines will serve as a blueprint for advancing constitutionalism, rule of law and democracy on the continent, in line with relevant African Union instruments, in particular the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

This support from the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) through the financial support of the Italian Government via the joint financial instrument with the African Union "Italy-Africa Peace Facility" whose agreement was signed in 2007 between Italy and the African Union and within the framework of the "Pro-Electoral Integrity" project and which follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the AU and ECES in April 2021, has so far made it possible to organise :

• The meeting of experts to finalise the draft guidelines on constitutional reviews which was held from 24 to 25 August 2022 in Niamey;
• The validation workshop on the strategy for the insertion of the teaching of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) in the school curricula of member states, held from 12 to 14 August 2022 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The aim is to promote the culture of democracy, good governance, respect for the rule of law and human rights among the future generation, in line with the relevant aspirations of Africa's Agenda 2063;
• The sixth (6th) continental forum on Transitional Justice held from 7 to 9 September 2022 in Lomé, Togo Republic, in collaboration with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Togo, with a view to strengthening the mechanisms and practices of Transitional Justice in the context of social capital
• To initiate the preparation of the General Assembly of the Association of African Electoral Authorities and the Annual Continental Forum of Electoral Management Bodies to be held from 14 to 17 November 2022 in Maputo, Mozambique. This will be the only political engagement platform on the continent, with 55 member states, to promote effective and efficient management of peaceful, credible and democratic elections in Africa. 

 

For further information, please contact:

Paschal Chem-Langhee, Communication officer | Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department | African Union Commission

Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: chem-langheep@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

 

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