Summary of key decisions of the assembly of the union

(Desire Assogbavi)-- Summary of the key decisions taken by the African Union’s heads of State and government at their sixteenth ordinary session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Decision on the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration, the assembly:

Adopted the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration, which is a major step towards the realization of the AU Shared Values Agenda, namely in its governance component;

Called on all Member States to take the necessary measures, as soon as possible, to sign and ratify the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration;

Requested the Commission to take the necessary measures to disseminate and popularise the Charter among the people of Africa as well as assist Member States in its domestication and implementation;

Decision on the Final Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the year of Peace and Security in Africa, the assembly:

Decided that, in order to sustain the efforts to make peace happen, the steps taken and initiatives launched as part of the year of Peace and Security in Africa should be pursued and intensified;

Endorsed the recommendations made by the Chairperson of the Commission in his report for the implementation of a long term sustainability strategy, building on the achievements made and the lessons learnt from the Make Peace Happen Campaign and revolving around the following elements: 1) the institutionalisation of the celebration of Peace Day, 2) communication and outreach to publicize the efforts of the continent and sensitise all stakeholders 3) partnerships with stakeholders, in particular the private sector and civil society 4) peace education 5) support to African academic and research institutions, to enhance their capacity to explore the nature of African conflicts to investigate what succeeds and fails in conflict resolution and to arrive at African-centered solutions 6) support to peace-building activities through renewed efforts towards the implementation of the Tripoli Declaration and Plan of action and the institutionalisation of the Cairo High-Level Retreat and 7) resource mobilisation, in particular within the continent, in order to enhance Africa’s ownership and of leadership in, the quest for peace in the continent

Urged all Member States to provide the support required for the successful implementation of the Make Peace Happen Campaign sustainability strategy. The Assembly also urged all other stakeholders, including RECs/RMs, Civil Society and private sector, to work closely with the AU and take all necessary initiatives and steps in this respect. The Assembly further urged the AU partners, including United Nations, to extend the necessary support and cooperation

Decision on the Implementation of the Decisions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), the assembly:

Supported and endorsed Kenya’s request for a deferment of the ICC investigations and prosecutions in relation to the 2008 post election violence under article 16 of the Rome Statute to allow for a National mechanism to prosecute the cases under a reformed Judiciary provided for in the new constitutional dispensation, in line with the principle of complementarity, and in this regard requested the UN Security Council to accede to this request;

Underscored the need for African States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to speak with one voice during the forthcoming negotiations at the level of the New York and the Hague working groups respectively and Requested the Group of African State Parties in New York to ensure that the proposal for amendment of article 16 of the Rome Statute is properly addressed during the forthcoming negotiations and to report to the Assembly through the Commission. In addition, they should ensure that the position of the ICC Prosecutor goes to an African during the forthcoming elections for Prosecutor scheduled for December 2011

Decision on the Outcome of G20 Summit, the assembly:

Decided that the AU Commission is an integral part of the delegation of the chairperson of the AU and would serve as the Secretariat for the two countries representing Africa-both in terms of preparation for the Summit and coordination of the African Position(s) in order to facilitate follow up on the implementation of various commitments and decisions made at these Summits.

Decision on the Theme, Date and Venue of the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, the assembly:

Recalled its decision adopted in Kampala, Uganda in July 2010 on the theme of the June/July 2011 Summit which shall be ‘Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development’;

Decided that the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly will be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 23rd -30 June, 2011;

Requested the Commission in collaboration with Member States and all relevant stakeholders to take all necessary measures to prepare all relevant documentation and materials for the Theme

Decision on the Theme of the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU in January 2012, assembly:

Decided that the theme for the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU to be held in January/February 2012 will be ‘Boosting Intra-African Trade’

Decision on the Offer of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to host the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, June/July 2012, the assembly:

Decided to convene the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly in the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Decision on the Appointment of Members of the Advisory Board on Corruption, the assembly:

Took note of the election conducted by the Executive Council;

Decided to appoint members of the Advisory Board on Corruption for two years term (For the list of the names of the appointed members, please visit the AU website)

Decision on the Budget for the AU for the 2011 Financial Year, the assembly:

Approved and recommended to the Assembly for the adoption the budget for the AU, for the financial year 2011, amounting US$ 256,754,447, with the total amount US$122,602,045 assessed to Member States on the basis of the new Scale assessment, which includes the balance of the Programs Budget amounting to US$10,177,417. A total amount of US$134,152,402 earmarked for the programs is secured from International Partners

Decision on the Report of Member States’ Experts Consultations on the Theme of the 16th Ordinary AU Assembly ‘Towards Greater Unity and Integration Through Shared Values’, the assembly:

Endorsed the strengthening of the African Governance Architecture, through the launch of the governance platform as an informal and non-decision making mechanism to: foster exchange of information; facilitate the elaboration of common positions on governance; strengthen the capacity of Africa to speak with one voice;

Requested the Commission to undertake periodic reviews and coordinate the monitoring of compliance to AU instruments on Shared Values;

Requested the AU Commission to ensure greater synergy and coherence between African Governance Architecture and the Peace and Security Architecture;

Declared 2012 as the year of Shared Values in Africa

Decision on the Status of Signature and Ratification of OAU/AU Treaties, the assembly:

Took note of the efforts made by the AU organs and in particular the Pan African Parliament, the AU Commission on International Law, ECOSOC, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the welfare of the Child as well as the Regional Economic Communities, International and Regional Organisations, and Civil Society towards advocacy and sensitisation of Member States to expedite the process of ratification of/accession to OAU/AU Treaties and requested them to persist in these efforts.

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