International Day of Parliamentarism: Pan-African Parliament Mps Charged To Take African Union Theme Of The Year To African Citizens
As we mark the International Day of Parliamentarism this June 30th, President of the Pan African Parliament , H E Chief Fortune Charumbira, has charged members of the Continental Parliament to take the message of the African Union theme for the year to all citizens of Africa.
Earlier this year, the AU declared 2024 the “Year of Education”. Theme of the year is “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century”. Building on the Transformative Education Summit of 2022, the AU’s Heads of States are committed to addressing the global education crisis and making progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4): to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” It is the first time that the AU considered and chose education as their theme and signaling a strong message towards achieving SDG4.
According to the President, the Pan-African Parliament plays a very important role in ensuring that policies and treaties of the African Union are translated into national legislations and enforced by Member States in line with Article 3(1) of the PAP Protocol. Article 3 of the Pan-African Parliament’s Protocol states that, “The objectives of the Pan-African Parliament shall be to: (a) Give a voice to the African peoples and the Diaspora; (b) facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the AU…”
He stressed that the Parliament discharges its mandate in the AU governance system by being the link between the people of Africa and the AU organs, adding that, “It is worth noting that the PAP in exercising this mandate undertakes annual activities aimed at promoting the theme for the year. These activities are aimed at promoting awareness of the particular theme on the AU priorities and policy directions for the year. It is in the light of this that the Pan-African Parliament has organized this one-day workshop”.
Addressing Members of the Pan-African Parliament, dignitaries from the diplomatic community, Academia, Civil Society Organizations, and the media at a workshop on the AU theme for the year, H E Chief Fortune Charumbira tasked Hon Koudio Kouakuo Bertin, the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources, to develop a document for adoption by plenary that MPs can take back to their respective countries for debate at the national parliament. He noted that the various national parliament upon debating on this report can also make inputs to it. These inputs will then be added to the recommendations of the Pan-African Parliament, which will be sent to the AU during its February meeting at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
H E Chief Fortune Charumbira emphasized the need for the Pan-African Parliament and National Parliaments to mobilise domestic resources for the transformation of the education sector.
“African parliamentarians have a critical role to play in ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to this important sector nationally and continentally. We need to leverage on our control of the national purse to mobilize adequate resources to equip young people with quality education and in-demand skills, and to empower all children regardless of gender, status, level of education or ability, so that no one is left behind. Together we can spearhead an educational turnaround in Africa!” he challenged.
