#aupsc

[potimun]

Despite criticisms of having colonialist solutions, AUPSC Committee delivers democratic plan against terrorism and human trafficking in its last session

By Fernanda Moura and Talyta França, Addis Ababa

The last meeting of the AUPSC committee arose from the union between the last two sessions. The Rwandan delegation starts by bringing up the rehabilitation plan for victims of terrorism produced in Lebanon for discussion. With psychological help and social support, as well as empowering victims, the delegation sees great potential in the program to help the African continent support victims of human trafficking.

Even though he does not deny international aid, Rwanda’s delegate emphasizes that the African Union must be primarily responsible for combating terrorism and human trafficking, as much as understanding that these issues cannot be delegated to other institutions or countries. Meanwhile, the Djibouti delegation agrees with Rwanda's vision and brings the need to strengthen military troops. The delegations agree that measures to combat human trafficking and support the victims of these terrorist actions are issues that need to be triggered simultaneously, as both are extremely important issues.

The African Union Committee Commissioner criticized the delegations' position in the manifesto against the terrorist attack that kidnapped Somali girls earlier in the day. According to him, the committee does not offer concrete solutions to resolve the attack and, above all, they continue to propagate a colonized perspective of approaching the situation. Critics of the presence of Interpol argue that African nations allow the intervention of other countries in national policies and that this type of positioning is harmful to the development of the continent and the countries in particular.

The nations of Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria and Djibouti disagree with the accusation of colonizing perspectives. The delegations do not exercise imperialism and colonization practices in the proposed solutions and advocate the use of financial aid from other countries. The Algerian delegate argues that aid does not mean giving freedom for other countries outside the continent to intervene in national policies.

In the end, the committee is responsible for fighting human trafficking by reinforcing policing on trafficking routes, supporting and offering rehabilitation for victims of trafficking and terrorism and creating measures that bring people closer to discussions about the social problem, raising awareness citizens. Finally, the delegations are committed to producing not only the financial distribution of aid to countries, but also to overseeing the use of money to combat human trafficking. The AUPSC Committee presented solutions based on dialogue and agreements between nations, in a democratic union against the violence reflected through terrorism and human trafficking in their territories. For this reason, the International Press Committee congratulates the Bureau and the delegations and delegates for the fact.

[potimun]

The fourth session of the AUPSC committee consolidates the main concerns about human trafficking

By Fernanda Moura and Talyta França, Addis Ababa

On this Sunday morning, 40 minutes late, the fourth session of the AUPSC committee began. The following delegations were present in the session: Kenya, Algeria, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Djibouti and Morocco. The Sierra Leone delegation called for a more objective discussion of the agenda in question. Three topics were discussed during the meeting, the first consolidating the committee's commitment to mapping trafficking paths on trans-African highways. From the graph exposed by the delegations, the "red areas" of human trafficking were traced, where the nations decided to intersect the inspections.

The second topic of discussion runned through the last topic on the committee's agenda of commitments, called "prevention, cooperation and other measures". Between the commitment to public awareness campaigns and the intensification of the inspection of trafficking, the concern with transparency mechanisms to account for the monetary distribution of resources to combat human trafficking were provided by the delegations, mainly Sierra Leone. This transparency system seeked to understand how and when these resources are going to be used, helping the committee to also supervise the combat measures.

The Kenyan delegation, represented by Felipe Abreu, also expressed concern about the situation in African countries with large Muslim populations. His speech questioned how the countries’ cultural, religious and moral issues could affect the fight against human trafficking and terrorism, since they are sometimes areas of religious conflict. The Nigeria delegation agreed that there will be a difficulty between balancing the need to respect the human right to religious freedom and combating the terrorist practices that result in human trafficking.

[potimun]

Breaking News: Terrorist attacks in Somalia put AUPSC committee in crisis

By Fernanda Moura and Talyta França, Addis Ababa

Moving towards the end of the fourth session, the committee received notification of the action by the terrorist group Al Shabaab in Somalia today (23/05), where a large number of girls were abducted. The group recognizes the responsibility for the attack and the number of kidnapped girls or more details of the terrorist attack has not yet been released. The AUPSC committee was provoked by the international splitters to take a position in relation to the attack, considering that it coincidentally happened during the discussion on terrorism and human trafficking.

Sought by the International Press Committee, the delegations emitted a statement demonstrating to be against the terrorist attacks and showing support for Somalia and its citizens. The Algeria delegation reiterated the committee's commitment to the attack by promoting a campaign for dialogue between the population, the delegations and the international committee. The reporter Talyta França asked what the emergency solutions the AUPSC Committee would take to prevent a similar attack from happening tomorrow in another school.

The Algeria delegation talked about the creation of public campaigns and an open dialogue with the population about every suspect action they see around the region. The delegation also mentioned reforce security in schools, since the target of terrorist groups are young people. In another question made by the International Press, it was asked if this attack changed the resolutions the Committee was planning to combat the terrorism in African nations. The Sierra Leone delegation affirmed that the solutions remained similar from what they are working, but that this recent attack generated more haste to establish emergency solutions.

At the end of the session, the AUPSC committee released its statement on the terrorist attack and measures to combat this type of actions. Among the delegations present are the Federal Republic of Nigeria, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Djibouti. Directing the Somali population specifically, the delegations repudiated the attacks and engaged in the coordination activity of formulating corrective measures to recover the victims and punish those responsible. The Committee also expressed regrets for the plight of victims, families and the affected population. Promoting the unity of nations, it reiterates the principle of an alliance that will help nations affected by terrorism and human trafficking.

As measures to combat terrorist acts, the AUPSC’s members declared their participation in the negotiation with the terrorists by investing in intelligence and providing psychological assistance for the victims. In addition, the Committee will join efforts with the international police, such as the INTERPOL on specific matters, articulating the instruments to combat this action.

National emergency measures were also discussed at the session. The first is the launching of campaigns to encourage civilians to denounce possible attacks, creating a closer relationship between the state and the population. The second proposal is to train the police and judges to identify electronic evidence of possible new attacks, as well as other theoretical negotiations, a measure that can also help in the ongoing debate through the committee. Finally, the committee proposes security measures for schools, as children are the main targets of terrorist attacks, reiterating the need to protect them. For now, the recommendation to the population is that they stay at home, or seek shelter at security posts and government shelters. 

[potimun]

Border Inspection or Money? The AUPSC Committee discusses the best solution to protect African people against human trafficking

By Fernanda Moura e Talyta França, Addis Ababa

This afternoon, the AUPSC met again to discuss the main points of the committee's resolution on the agenda to combat human trafficking. Because of the remote modality, the delegations had connection problems that prevented full participation during the event. Many countries were unable to attend the second session, but joined the third session in depth. The second session began with a debate on the intensification of border inspection and the importance of mapping the national causes of the phenomenon. The delegations of Rwanda and Nigeria argued about the direction of anti-trafficking policies from a national and international perspective.

The expenditure and financial capacities of African countries were also discussed. The Kenyan and Sierra Leone delegations emphasized the need for external financial assistance for countries in greater vulnerability, while Nigeria offered help to countries in need. The Rwanda delegation recognized the financial need but emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the space to build alliances that helped the continent to combat human trafficking and terrorism.

In the third session, the AUPSC committee agreed on the need to find solutions to the debate, calling on countries that had not yet positioned themselves on the latest topics discussed. Seeking to consolidate the debate agenda on human trafficking, Sierra Leone’s delegate, Amanda Macêdo, opened the discussion on gender and gender-based violence resulting from this phenomenon. The delegations also discussed the importance of protecting the minorities affected by these conflicts, when the delegation of Angola remembered that this minority are people in situations of vulnerability, such as ethical and religious groups. 

In the final moments of the session, the Algeria delegation remembered about an specific terrorism group in the region, the Al Qaeda, and how they use media sources to manipulate young people in joining their side. Furthermore, the delegation of Sierra Leone stated the importance to identify these kind of sources of terrorism groups, in order to fight it. The Committee will keep the discussion about solutions to the human trafficking and terrorism, as well as how to protect the minorities affected, in the next session this Sunday.

[potimun]

Human trafficking: national, international or transnational?

By Fernanda Moura e Talyta França, Addis Ababa

Throughout the AUPSC committee, amid many debates and disagreements, the delegations of Rwanda and Nigeria debated on the main approach to be taken when it comes to combating human trafficking. The Nigeria delegation expressed concern about the international scope and border security. The solution to tackle human trafficking would be to intensify border inspection. With the support of the Kenya delegation, the importance of directing the budget to border surveillance was argued.

On the other hand, the Rwanda delegation argued the need to direct these expenditures towards internal policies to combat human trafficking. From this point of view, the social problem is understood as a national phenomenon that needs to be mapped through the trafficking road on the continent. The delegation of Nigeria counters that human trafficking is not an unilateral action, there are several transnational strands involved in the phenomenon.

Both strands are more than necessary. The transnational perspective is an important instrument to understand the social context and the means of action of the phenomenon. At the end of the meeting, questions about the border remained on the debate agenda to combat human trafficking. The AUPSC committee as a whole needs to agree on the economic and political commitments of that union. We will see in the next sessions these concerns will be developed.

[potimun]

African nations united against human trafficking and terrorism

By Talyta França and Fernanda Moura, Addis Ababa

The AUPSC committee started the program at 9:30 am. It was present in the committee the following delegations: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, Kenya, Angola, Gabon, Rwanda, Morocco and Nigéria. The delegations discussed the construction of the AUPSC Committee schedule which covers gender violence debate and the minorities situation included in the human traffic and terrorism system. The importance of gender discussion was emphasized by some delegations, which contributed directly to the agenda formation. Moreover, the debate on the difference between human trafficking and human smuggling was also brought up by a couple of delegations. Not only the importance of debating human trafficking, but the discussion of measures that combat the increase of terrorism in the African continent.

After some suggestions of how to proceed the formal debate, it was established that the focus of the Committee will be, despite terrorism and human trafficking, also about the victims outline, including women, children and minorities, besides some specifications on each region priority based on the continent's political conflicts and the imperialist system and gender violence. The delegation of Sierra Leone also highlighted the importance of discussing religions and their influence in Africa regions conflicts. And finally, forms to prevent all these conflicts in cooperation among the delegations, in which one of the suggestions were campaigns for public awareness. In the next session those subjects are going to be discussed by the delegations present at the meeting. 

[voiceofarewa]

New Post has been published on Voice of Arewa

New Post has been published on http://www.voiceofarewa.com/2014/04/22/nigeria-leads-au-debate-on-conflict-free-africa-envoy/

Nigeria Leads AU Debate On Conflict-free Africa – Envoy

Nigeria will on Thursday lead the 15-member  AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on a debate to evolve a mechanism for the effort to attain a conflict-free Africa by 2020, Amb. Bulus Paul Lolo, has said.

Lolo, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), is chairing the session for the Security Council for the month of April and will lead an open session on the debate.

The debate is  “On Silencing the Guns: Pre-requisites for realising a Conflict-Free Africa by the Year 2020’’.

Lolo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Addis Ababa on Tuesday that the debate would evolve a robust institutional framework for effective prevention and combating the scourge of violent conflicts on the continent.

He said the conflicts had remained a serious challenge with heavy toll on the people and the economy of Africa, in spite of the liberation of the continent from colonial rule and the dismantling of apartheid.

“Violent conflicts have remained prevalent in some of parts of Africa, thus undermining development gains and efforts,” Lolo said.

NAN recalls that in 2002, the protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security  of AU, which embodies the African Peace and Security Architecture was mooted as a milestone in Africa’s relentless quest for sustainable peace, security and stability.

Members of the council will, during Thursday’s debate, exchange views on how to address the root causes of conflicts in Africa, with attention on the challenges and opportunities of attaining a conflict-free Africa by the end of the decade.

According to the concept note of the debate, questions on how Africa can end its ongoing violent conflicts, prevent relapse to conflicts and ensure the sustenance of peace will be addressed.

Lolo said the issues would guide the discourse to evolve mechanisms on how Africa, “acting alone, would address the internal and external factors that helped in sustaining the violent conflicts on the continent”.

He said the council would come up with strategies required to prevent the cycle of violent conflicts with the use of practical tools to neutralise actions and events that often triggered such conflicts.

The council will also review the use of the Continental Early Warning System, Panel of the Wise and other regional mechanisms which have served as its conflict prevention and management efforts, Lolo said.

The outcome of the debate will contribute to the development of a roadmap to underpin the attainment of a conflict-free Africa expected to be endorsed and ratified by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government for implementation.

There are pockets of conflicts ranging from ethno-religious and  political insurgency in parts of Africa, including Mali, South Sudan, Central African Republic Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, Egypt and Libya.

The conflicts and insurgencies have led to the killing of hundreds of thousands of people, mostly women and children  with two million others so far displaced from their places of abode.

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[allfresh-blog]

Zim welcomes AU recognition:The which comprises of 15 member states, plays a big role in maintenance http://bit.ly/jBs55v