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Strengthening Popular Participation in the African Union: A Guide to AU Structures and Processes

Book
AfriMap AfriMap, Oxfam Oxfam
2010
Published by: African Minds
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summary
The African Union (AU) has committed to a vision of Africa that is �integrated, prosperous and peaceful � driven by its own citizens, a dynamic force in the global arena� (Vision and Mission of the African Union, May 2004). This guide is an effort to take up the challenge of achieving this vision. It is a tool to assist activists to engage with AU policies and programmes. It describes the AU decision-making process and outlines the roles and responsibilities of the AU institutions. It also contains a sampling of the experiences of those non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have interacted with the AU.

Table of Contents

open access

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Contents

pp. iv-v

Acknowledgements

pp. v

Acronyms

pp. vi

Introduction - The purpose of this guide

pp. 1

Part One - AU Organs & Institutions

pp. 3-5

Assembly of Heads of State and Government

pp. 6-7

Chairperson of the African Union

pp. 8-9

Executive Council of Ministers

pp. 10-11

Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)

pp. 12-13

Commission of the African Union

pp. 14-17

Peace and Security Council (PSC)

pp. 18-20

Pan-African Parliament (PAP)

pp. 21

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

pp. 22-23

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

pp. 24

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (to become the African Court of Justice and Human Rights)

pp. 25-26

Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)

pp. 27-28

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

pp. 29-30

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)

pp. 31-32

Specialised Technical Committees (STC)

pp. 33

Financial Institutions

pp. 34

Funding of the African Union

pp. 35

Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

pp. 36

Part Two - INFLUENCING AU DECISIONS & POLICIES

The AU decision-making process

pp. 39-40

Civil society engagement with the AU Organs

pp. 41-42

NGO observer status with the AU

pp. 43

Accessing information

pp. 44-45

Influencing national-level decisions on AU proposals

pp. 46-47

AU Summits

pp. 48-54

Part Three - The Union Government Debate

pp. 55-60

Appendices

Appendix 1: AU Regions

pp. 62-63

Appendix 2: Regional Economic Communities recognised by the African Union

pp. 64-65

Appendix 3: Useful websites and contacts

pp. 66

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