Maravi

'Failure to ratify Charter on democracy unacceptable'

'Failure to ratify Charter on democracy unacceptable'
By Mwala Kalaluka in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fri 13 July 2012, 10:20 CAT

AN African good governance advocacy group says protracted failure by most governments to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa is unacceptable.

In a petition to the 54 African states and the African Union availed to journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing 19th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, the organisation, State of the Union SOTU, said they expect the ratification of these agreements before the end of the Summit on Monday.

"As African citizens we call on you, our governments, to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa before the end of the…African Union summit," the petition read.

"As noted by the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers in January 2012, it is regrettable that very few governments have taken effective steps to domesticate and implement these two critical instruments among others.

We think this is unacceptable." SOTU stated that failure by African governments to domesticate and implement these agreements was likely to block continental integration and development progress.

"Consequently, Africa is one of the world's regions most affected by coups, electoral irregularities, famine, discrimination and violence against women. Ratification and implementation of the Democracy Charter and the Women's Rights Protocol will help establish a culture of gender equality, democratic governance and citizens' participation consistent with the Constituent Act of the Africa," the petition read further.

SOTU also urged African governments to take urgent steps and implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Plan CAADP that commits governments on the continent to prioritise agriculture by increasing investments and support to farmers.

The State of the Union project tracks and engages governments and the African Union on the performance of African governments against key democratic governance, economic and social rights and civil and political rights policy standards and instruments.

Labels: DEMOCRACY

posted by MrK @ 2:03 PM