LILONGWE-(MaraviPost) – State of the Union Coalition (SOTU), a grouping of civil society organizations (CSOs) working together to hold African governments accountable on African Union (AU) decisions, has strongly asked African governments through their respective legislative arms to swiftly ratify and implement AU resolutions amid increase in human rights abuses in the continent.The call was made in the capital Lilongwe over the weekend after SOTU launched its first ever study themed, “Strengthening the People’s Parliament: A Legal & Policy Analysis of the New Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Protocol,” covering on legal analysis of the revised protocol focusing on interpreting its provisions, policy implications and opportunities and recommendations for AU’s member states, PAP and CSOs.

SOTU advocates for the ratification, domestication, and implementation of AU instruments, policy frameworks and standards believing that their successful implementation will have tremendous positive impact on the lives of millions of African citizens.

The AU has adopted over 50 treaties, conventions and protocols that aim at improving citizen’s life and entrench a culture of respect for human rights, good governance, peace and economic prosperity.

The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) such as Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and East African Community (EAC) have also developed standards through protocols, declarations and policy frameworks aimed at putting value on principles of good governance, human rights, gender equality, peace, security and economic prosperity.

However, the greatest challenge with AU as well as with most REC instruments, is that implementation at the country level is extremely low and takes much time.

It’s from this background that SOTU through PAP is asking African Parliaments to quickly ratify AU decisions.

This will enhance regional integration and provide a common platform for citizens’ engagements who are subjected to numerous human rights abuses including albino killings in Malawi.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post, Roger Nkodo Dang, Pan-African Parliament President emphasized the need for the continent’s legislature arm of government to start looking seriously into protocols, treaties their governments sign.

Dang says AU decisions have legal backings which Parliaments have an oversight role of ensuring that governments are abiding by in protecting its citizens from any human rights abuses.

“Africa is at a critical time in its development and the strengthening of AU institutions such as the PAP which improve the implementation of human rights and governance in AU member states.

“We need to start advocating for our states to ratify the Revised PAP Protocol. We need to come together though with different political ideologies in one course as a continent. We are all one nor north nor south,” said Dang.

On his part, activist Edward Chileka-Banda who hinted that African social-economic challenges facing currently could be dealt by themselves not necessarily by the west or donors’ support saying the continent has enough resources to turn things around.

Chileka Banda appealed to the country’s Parliament to seriously ratify some of the AU resolutions which are paramount in nature in addressing challenges rocking Malawi which are as a result of the abuse of public resources and corruption.

“SOTU monitors and assesses performance of states by producing reports on compliance with AU decisions as well as showcasing the status of ratification of AU instruments and standards.

“It’s in view of this that we recognize the role the PAP could potentially play in setting the continent’s development agenda and calls for stronger commitments by AU member states including Malawi to ratify and support the PAP by implementing its provision effectively,” said Chileka-Banda.