By: Dorothy Likoke
(MaraviPost iReport): The African Union Southern Africa Regional office (AU-SARO) has the core mandate to raise awareness about the AU and its mandate in the region.
In line with this objective AU-SARO hosted a meeting with the State of the Union Coalition (SOTU), a coalition of civil society organization working together to hold African Governments accountable for the ratification and implementation of African Union decisions.
The meeting was organized by the AU-SARO in response to the article written by SOTU seeking for the organization’s involvement in implementing a human rights program called Project 2016, which has an emphasis on the rights of women.
The AU Regional Delegate to Southern Africa, Dr. Augustine Ngomo, highlighted that the goal of project 2016 is part of the broader AU’s initiative called the ‘Agenda 2063’ which aspires to have an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.
Dr. Ngomo then applauded the civil society organizations for being a voice for the people and urged them to continue to play a meaning role in monitoring implementation of the domestication of AU declarations and decisions.
He further gave details of some of the AU’s planned activities for the year and welcomed the opportunity for engagement with CSOs working in all areas of human rights. Noting some of the reasons countries may not have ratified AU decisions and declarations.
Dr. Ngomo highlighted that Member States may not have the necessary technical skills and capacities to implement decisions in these instances, the AU may provide technical support to the Member States and is committed in assisting countries where necessary.
He also urged SOTU to come up with a set of monitoring tools that may better help identify gaps in implementation of human rights declarations and protocols.
In response, Director for Eye on Development and SOTU Coordinator, Edward Chileka Banda, urged AU to enhance its mechanisms that would improve citizen participation and capacity building that would ultimately create a human rights centered approach to development.
The meeting concluded with Dr. Ngomo committing to a continued partnership between AU and CSOs to work together in other future projects. The 2014 Chisomo Children Club‘s head count estimated that about 2,000 an 4,000 children live in the city of Lilongwe and Blantyre respectively whose centers in these two cities rescues about 4,000 yearly from various human rights abuses.