Midrand, 24 June 2024. The African Peer-review Mechanism’s (APRM) Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre was invited to the Sixth Parliament 3rd Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to deliver a statement and convey a message of solidarity to a sister organisation.
Taking the floor to make his welcoming remarks, H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament welcomed the Guest of Honour and the Special Guests that came from various organisations to honour the Pan-African Parliament invitation. The President of PAP recalled some challenges that affected negatively the image of the institution and reminded Honourable Members of the Pan-African Parliament to play their overseeing role professionally to reposition and improve the reputation of the institution. He encouraged Honourable Members of the Pan-African Parliament to be result-oriented and think Africa above everything else to solve African governance and socio-economic challenges.
The Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in South Africa, HE André Nzapayeke gave a message of support to the Pan-African Parliament after months of turbulences that affected the activities of the institution. Honourable Members of the Pan-African Parliament were urged to work as a team to realise the aspirations of the founding Fathers of a prosperous, peaceful and democratic continent. In addition, he stressed that PAP should not be considered as an institution that belongs to the elites but should rather be the voice of all the people of the continent.
The Vice President of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, Honourable Justice Modibo Sacko, highlighted the realisation of the court and the challenges that the institution is facing in executing its mandate of ensuring that the human and socio-economic rights of the African population are upheld and respected. He called upon Honourable Members of the Pan-African Parliament to work closely with their respective countries to implement the court’s judgement as the execution rate is currently standing at less than 10%. Furthermore, the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, Honourable Remy Ngoy Lumbu took the floor to salute and acknowledge the positive collaborative and complementarity role that African Union Organs are demonstrating for the best interest of the continent.
The European Union Ambassador to the African Union, H.E. Ambassador Javier Nino Perez delivered his message of solidarity by outlining some challenges and opportunities the African continent is facing. Based on some issues facing the continent, he indicated that a challenging time requires team spirit of listening to each other and working together. In addition, he mentioned that the European Union will continue to work with PAP to solve some of the challenges related to conflict resolution for everlasting peace on the continent.
The African Peer Review Mechanism’s Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre started her statement by acknowledging that it was an honour for the APRM and herself, to be received in that sanctuary of democracy, where so much of the history of the continent is being written. In the same vein, the APRM’s CEO followed the previous speakers by congratulating the newly elected Members of the Bureau and the PAP President to preside over of that August institution for the wellbeing of the African people, the stability and entrenchment of democracy in Africa. In this regard of entrenching democracy in Africa, the APRM’s CEO congratulated South Africa and other African countries for holding free and fair elections that consolidate democracy on the continent. In addition, the APRM’s CEO used her experience as a former Member of Parliament in the Seychelles to recall the critical role that PAP has to play as the voice of the voiceless to advance democracy for the wellbeing of the African population in general and the youth in particular. Talking of the youth, Amb. Marie Antoinette linked the African Union’s theme of the year on education to encourage PAP play its oversight role to ensure that significant investments are directed towards youth education to shape the future of the continent and positively meet the challenge of an evolving world. She concluded her statement by calling PAP to actively participate in the APRM processes and made herself available to enhance collaboration with PAP to further advance common interests and values.
The deputy speaker of the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria, Honourable Benjamin Kalu called upon the Honourable Members of the Pan-African Parliament to pay more attention to the African Union’s theme of the year to ensure that actions are taken now to build resilient and quality education systems in Africa to achieve sustainable development of the continent. He also called that measures have to be taken to discourage brain drain that has negative effects on the continent.
The Palestinian Ambassador to South Africa H.E. Hanan Jarrar described the dire situation in Gaza, commending the African continent for its historic stance against Israeli actions and noting increased international awareness due to the South African initiative at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). She detailed the latest developments in Gaza and called for the Pan-African Parliament to continue serving as a platform that stands with the voiceless and a more just world.
The Guest of Honor and President of the Arab Parliament Honourable Adel Bin AbdulRahman Al Asoomi, thanked the PAP President for the invitation and outlined the cultural and religious ties that link the African continent and the Arab World as the basis for more collaboration and partnership. He also outlined that the decolonisation struggle that the African continent and the Arab World experienced is another indication of the unbreakable ties to defend the interest of the population in global affairs.
