SADC Parliamentary Forum
Dear Colleagues/partners,
It is with ineffable pleasure that I release this Statement to Member Parliaments and partners on the dignified occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE SYMPOSIUM FOR THE 54 TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION
"THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS IN PROMOTING COORDINATION FOR ENHANCED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND RECOVERY PLANNING IN THE SADC REGION "
22NDNOVEMBER 2023
CONCEPT NOTE
54 TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY
OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
SESSION HOSTED
BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS
22 ND - 26THNOVEMBER 2023
Dear Colleagues and Partners,
The SADC Parliamentary Forum presents its congenial compliments to its Member Parliaments and partners and is pleased to keenly commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child on this 11th October 2023.
On this day, the Forum recognises the significant importance of empowering girl children in Africa through adequate food, shelter, health care and education to ensure that they become the leaders of tomorrow. The Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 which is premised in large part on gender equality also implies that girl children must be treated equally, and without discrimination with regards to boys who are often offered better chances and opportunities in life.
CONCEPT NOTE
PUBLIC HEARING SESSION FOR SADC PF STANDING COMMITTEES
Amplifying Citizens' Voices in Regional Integration in Southern Africa: Bridging the Engagement Gap by bringing Parliament to the People
Dates: 11 th to 18 th October 2023
Format: Virtual (Zoom)
Dear Colleagues/partners,
I have the immense contentment to release this Statement to the Forum’s Member Parliaments and partners in view of celebrating the International Day of Democracy 2023.
On this day, it is essential to recognise that democracy is the single most important pillar for human development. Democracy provides the necessary space for human rights to be progressively implemented and enables the protection of minorities. Democracy is the only form of governance which bestows credence to the will of the people and allows citizens to freely choose their elected representatives to advance their interests within parliaments. Parliaments which embody democracy then provide a framework for accountability and for checks and balances to be exercised on the Government of the day. Whilst Parliaments derive their mandate from the democratic framework, a strong democracy logically translates into a robust Parliament.
PROGRAMME - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26 Aug 2023PROGRAMME - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26TH – 27TH AUGUST 2023
“SETTING OUT A ROADMAP FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL”
VENUE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
CONCEPT NOTE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26 Aug 2023CONCEPT NOTE - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26TH – 27TH AUGUST 2023
“SETTING OUT A ROADMAP FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL”
VENUE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND
The Committee of Clerks/Secretaries General of Member Parliaments is an institutional organ of the SADC-PF established under Article 10(1)(f) of the Forum’s Constitution and guided by Rules 20A-20F of the Rules of Procedure. Since its inception, the Committee has evolved into a robust advisory platform which proficiently engages on topics of administrative interest that are referred to it by the Executive Committee. In this regard, the Committee has successfully advised the Forum organs that are vested with administrative tasks including the Secretariat, the Executive Committee and by extension, the Plenary Assembly as the main policy-organ of the SADC-PF.
1. Introduction and background to assignment
The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) has been implementing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS Governance Project in collaboration with 10 participating national Parliaments over the past four (4) years. The Project inter alia aims at leveraging on parliamentary interventions to promote universal access to SRHR services across SADC within a context of democratic accountability and the respect for human rights. With the end of the implementing period under the Project, participating countries have registered several success stories and achievements which are to be documented in view of ensuring that the SRHR legacy survives beyond the life of the Project and that consistency in SRHR parliamentary delivery is progressively institutionalised.
1. Introduction and background to assignment
The SADC Parliamentary Forum is the main inter-parliamentary organisation of Southern Africa which is mandated by its Plenary Assembly to develop and monitor the domestication of Model Laws, Minimum Standards and other related normative instruments. Over decades, the Model Laws developed by the Forum have become crucial legislative benchmarks for SADC national Parliaments, in particular to level up legal and administrative norms in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV, child marriage, public financial management etc. Model Laws are inspired from the relevant United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) human rights treaties and are additionally adapted and contextualised to befit the Southern African context. For the sake of completeness, each Model Law developed by the Forum has been arrived at pursuant to widespread consultations with stakeholders and interest groups emanating from the three arms of the State (Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary).