Deputy Speaker, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance was adopted at the 8th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of member states of the African Union in January 2007.
The charter was developed as part of the AU's emphasis on promoting democracy and good governance in member states. As such, it has the potential to serve as a guide and reference point for sustained and ongoing political reform on the African continent. It also places emphasis on women and youth.
However, it must be ratified by 15 states before it takes effect. In July 2010 only five states had ratified it. South Africa was not one of them, which is most unfortunate.
The Pan-African Parliament, PAP, was given the responsibility through article 45 of the charter to promote it. It was thus decided to launch the "11 Before 2011" campaign in order to get as many countries as possible to ratify it ahead of the AU's Heads of States Summit in 2011.
As the Pan-African Parliament delegate to the Central Africa regional meeting in early September, I undertook to write to the Minister and was delighted when she referred the charter to the portfolio committee. South Africa will be the second Southern African Development Community, SADC, country to ratify the charter after Lesotho. We should have been the first. As the host country of the Pan-African Parliament, we need to lead by example and promote democracy. Nevertheless, we support the charter fully and the next step will be to encourage compliance by the member states.
Accession to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance approved.