SANF 04 no 25
The election of Gertrude Mongella of the United Republic of Tanzania as President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) under the African Union (AU), to spearhead its affairs for the next five years, is a landmark victory to the quest for women’s participation in politics and decision-making.
That one of the four vice presidents, Loum N. Ne’loumsei Elise from Chad, is also a woman puts the cherry on the cake.
Having two out of the five top positions in the PAP is a clear victory for the continent especially given that women are generally absent in the higher echelons of politics and decision-making at national parliamentary levels.
Although the AU has achieved 50 percent parity in the appointment of the AU commissioners, women on the continent should use this window of opportunity to continue lobbying for 30 and 50 percent parity for women in other strategic and decision-making structures of the organisation.
The AU aims, among other objectives, to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance as well as to promote and protect human and people’s rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) and other relevant human rights instruments.
With the first session of the PAP in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 18-20 March 2004, African women had a challenge to ensure that they maximise the continental legislature’s potential to promote gender equality.
As Mongella said at her inauguration, “To my sisters in Africa, the struggle we started years ago, which resulted in the abolition of slavery, colonialism and the dismantling of apartheid, is now bearing fruit, we now see the practical implementation of equality.”
She said her election was a reflection of changing attitudes among men on the continent coupled with the relentless fight for equality.
But the struggle to increase representation by women requires that gender activists in Africa fully understand the functions of the continental legislature, its structures and potential benefits.
Initially, the PAP will have consultative and advisory powers, later evolving into an institution with full legislative powers whose members will be elected by universal adult suffrage.
It is envisaged that the PAP will have the mandate to discuss any matter, making its position known to the Assembly and to African citizens. This presents an opportunity for inclusion of continental gender issues.
The PAP, for instance, can decide to have a standing item for monitoring how the continent is progressing on all past agreements and commitments like the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Dakar and Beijing Platforms, the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights of Women in Africa, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
According to Articles 11 on “Functions and Powers” and 12 on “Rules of Procedure and Organisation of the Pan-African Parliament”, the PAP may “Examine, discuss or express an opinion on any matter, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Assembly or other policy organs and make recommendations it may deem fit.”
The recommendations may be on “matters pertaining to respect of human rights, the consolidation of democratic institutions, and, the culture of democracy as well as the promotion of good governance and the rule of law.”
The PAP will also have the mandate to establish committees for the proper discharge of its function in accordance with its Rules of Procedure. Women thus need to strategically identify potential roles for themselves within the structures of the PAP.
Currently, the five regions of Africa are represented with a President and four Vice-presidents forming the Bureau of the PAP. A Clerk and two Deputy Clerks will assist the Bureau. Thus, until the PAP recruits its own staff, the AU commission will provide administrative support.
The major challenge for women is that they hardly feature in some key bodies of the AU. Presently, there is no woman Head of State, therefore no woman on the highest structure, the Assembly. There are very few women Foreign Affairs Ministers and so hardly a presence in the very important Executive Council, which makes recommendations to the Assembly.
Notably however, the Rules of Procedure of PAP list one of its Powers and Functions – in Rule 4 (4) as to “ensure the promotion of gender equality in all programmes of the Union”. There is thus need for more women in this body and that can only happen through their appointment as ministers of foreign affairs at national level.
But women have to strategise and ensure that the windows opened from the onset of PAP are effectively utilised for the benefit of more women. (SARDC)
