Media urged to raise awareness on impact of GBV in SADC
05 Aoû 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary ForumSeasoned journalist, gender practitioner and human rights activist Ms Pamela Dube from Botswana has called on media practitioners in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to raise awareness on the impact of Gender-Based Violence in the SADC Region.
Dube was speaking during a virtual consultative session to familiarise the media on the SADC Model Law on Gender-Based Violence, convened by the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) on 6 August 2021.
She said the media had a strategic and important potential to contribute to the prevention and elimination of GBV in the SADC region. “I wish to call on you to raise awareness on the impact of GBV in the SADC Region. Raise awareness on the role of the Model Law on GBV in the prevention of GBV and raise awareness on the stakeholder consultation process,” she said.
She challenged the media practitioners to support the implementation process. She compared the stigma suffered by GBV survivors to what families of those affected by AIDS had experienced in the past.
“At the highest point of HIV and AIDS, there was a lot of denial around our communities until we started seeing people coming forward. Once we saw the face and people could identify with the problem, stigma could be dealt with. We are faced with the same scourge right now which is at the homes, the offices and on the streets. Until we step to the plate and be able to give face to this and be able to speak to the heart of the problem, very little can be achieved,” Dube warned.
In addition, she urged the media workers to seriously ponder the role they wished to play toward GBV eradication and pointed out that while laws could be made, it was important for media practitioners and citizens to understand them.
“Laws can be made, our leadership can rise to the occasion, but if we are not in the forefront of giving information and disseminating, then very little, if anything will be achieved,” she said.
According to Dube, the SADC region faces different challenges in relation to GBV. High on that list are inadequate national laws, inadequate national frameworks and inadequate gender-disaggregated statistics, as well as outdated laws.
“It is against this background and in response to calls from various stakeholders to meet the goal of eliminating GBV by 2030, that the SADC PF commissioned the development of a Model Law on GBV that will be used to address, prevent and combat all forms of GBV,” she explained.
She underscored that GBV impedes efforts to achieve national, regional, continental and global development goals. GBV not only has terrible effects on survivors, but it also impacts negatively on society at large with serious socio- economic consequences.
“It raises enormous public health problems which are often overlooked. Survivors and victims of GBV are at high risk of severe and long-lasting health problems such as death from injuries or suicide, poor mental health, chronic pain, deafness, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and or AIDS,” she said.
While 13 SADC countries had laws on domestic violence and 14 on sexual assault, there was still evidence of GBV being most commonly perpetrated by “husbands or intimate partners” at global and regional levels. Moreover, Dube pointed out that COVID-19 had exacerbated the situation.
Speaking during the same event, Zimbabwean journalist Joseph Munda concurred with Dube and said: “It (GBV) is a key issue that has been going on and increasing with COVID-19 and there are a lot of dynamics around it.”
He, however, lamented challenges that journalists face and called for more information around good practices and some of the laws implemented by other SADC Member States. Munda felt that if information around effective laws was shared, it would make brainstorming for possible solutions to end GBVeasier.
“These are some of the key challenges that we have. Most of us are now working virtually and getting information can prove difficult at times. As a region, the information sharing itself and the learning process is very important for us journalists to be able to gather and disseminate information,” he noted.
Munda also stressed the lack of support structures to be able to get stories done, specifically due to a limitation of resources, which in turn shifts attention toward political and other stories.
Basadi Tamplin raised issues of strengthening cyber-security due to multiple instances that have seen a correlation between GBV and cyber-crimes. “Everyone has access to the internet and we all use internet to 24/7. There are alarming rates of
1. Introduction
L’information contenue dans ce document est destinée à orienter les Délégués prenant part à la 51ème Assemblée Plénière du Forum Parlementaire de la SADC (FP de la SADC) qui se tiendra en mode face à face à Lilongwe, au Malawi, du 7 au 16 juillet 2022.
Le Parlement du Malawi est honoré d’accueillir la réunion et souhaite chaleureusement la bienvenue à tous les Délégués au Malawi.
2. Lieu et Format des Réunions
La 51ème Session de l’Assemblée Plénière se tiendra en mode face à face (en présentiel) au Centre International de Convention Bingu [Bingu International Convention Center (BICC)], situé au centre ville de la capitale Lilongwe, à environ 30 minutes en voiture de l’Aéroport International de Kamuzu. Toutefois, les Délégués qui ne peuvent pas se rendre à Lilongwe peuvent également participer à la réunion par vidéoconférence à travers un lien de la plateforme Zoom qui sera créé.
3. Programme
i. 7 juillet – Arrivée du Secrétariat du FP de la SADC
ii. 8 juillet – Réunion entre le Secrétariat du FP de la SADC et le Secrétariat du Parlement hôte
iii. 9 juillet – Arrivée du Président du FP de la SADC
iv. 10 juillet – Arrivée de tous les autres Délégués
v. 11 juillet – Cérémonie d’ouverture officielle (matin) et Symposium en Séance Plénière (après-midi)
vi. 12 au 14 juillet – Session de l’Assemblée Plénière
vii. 15 juillet – Excursions
viii. 16 juillet – Départ de tous les Délégués
4. Documentation
Tous les documents pour la Réunion seront diffusés sous forme électronique sur un portail qui sera mis en place à cette fin. Aucune copie imprimée ne sera distribuée sur le lieu des réunions. À cet égard, il est conseillé aux Délégués d’apporter leurs ordinateurs portables afin de pouvoir télécharger et utiliser les documents sous forme électronique.
5. Immigration
Chaque Délégué doit être en possession d’un passeport valide et ceux qui ont besoin d’un visa doivent prendre les dispositions nécessaires à leur entrée au Malawi. Pour la plupart des pays de la SADC, les visas peuvent être délivrés à l’arrivée.
6. Accueil à l’Arrivée
Les Délégués seront accueillis à leur arrivée à l’Aéroport International de Kamuzu par des Agents du Protocole du Secrétariat du Parlement hôte qui les aideront et les accompagneront à leurs hôtels respectifs.
Les Parlements sont donc invités à soumettre les itinéraires de voyage de leurs Délégués au Parlement du Malawi au plus tard le 20 juin 2022, avec des copies envoyées au Forum Parlementaire de la SADC.
7. Accréditation
Tous les Délégués sont priés de s’inscrire au Bureau d’Information dès leur arrivé. Ce Bureau d’Information sera situé sur le lieu de la réunion. Afin d’accélérer le processus d’accréditation, les Délégués sont priés de soumettre à l’avance les détails de leurs informations, y compris des photos d’identité.
8. Dispositions concernant le transport et le transfert
Le Parlement du Malawi sera responsable de l’organisation du transport local des Délégués à l’arrivée et au départ [depuis l’aéroport vers l’hôtel et depuis l’hôtel vers l’aéroport] mais aussi vers le lieu et depuis le lieu de la Réunion et les hôtels recommandés énumérés au paragraphe 12 de la présente Circulaire d’Information Générale.
Tout transport requis en dehors du programme de la Réunion sera considéré comme étant de nature privée et les Délégués devront prendre en charge le coût de ces services.
9. Dispositions en matière de sécurité
Le Gouvernement du Malawi, par l’intermédiaire de ses agences de sécurité, assurera la sécurité de tous les Délégués sur la base des pratiques internationales pendant toute la durée de la Réunion.
Les délégués recevront des badges d’identité lors de leur accréditation. Les Délégués seront priés de porter ces badges pendant toute la durée de la Réunion pour des raisons de sécurité, pour faciliter l’identification et l’accès au lieu de Réunion.
10. Services médicaux
Des services cliniques seront disponibles sur le lieu de la Réunion pendant toute la durée de la Réunion pour des troubles de santé mineurs. Toutefois, des maladies graves nécessitant une attention médicale et des soins avancés pourront être dirigées vers l’hôpital public le plus proche. Les Délégués qui choisissent de se rendre dans un hôpital privé seront responsables de leurs propres factures médicales. À cet égard, les Délégués sont encouragés à être munis d’une assurance maladie.
11. Lignes directrices sur la prévention de la COVID-19
11.1 Les Délégués sont invités à note que, à compter du 1er juin 2022, les directives de prévention de la COVID-19 suivantes entreront en vigueur au Malawi :
a. Tous les délégués qui arrivent et qui sont entièrement vaccinés devront présenter un certificat de vaccination complet contre la COVID-19 valide et vérifiable par voie électronique au point d’entrée ;
b. Les délégués qui ne sont pas entièrement vaccinés ou qui n’ont pas de certificat de vaccination complet contre la COVID-19 valide et vérifiable par voie électronique doivent disposer d’un certificat de test PCR de COVID-19 négatif obtenu au cours des dernières 72 heures au moment de leur arrivée au Malawi ;
c. Pour les délégués qui retournent dans leur pays respectif, le certificat PCR de COVID-19 ou l’exigence de certificat de vaccination complet de COVID-19 dépendra des exigences de leur pays de destination.
11.2 Les Délégués sont également informés que, conformément à la résolution de la 50ème Assemblée Plénière, si un ou une Délégué(e) prenant part à une activité du Forum Parlementaire reçoit un résultat positif au test de COVID-19, le coût de la quarantaine sera pris en charge par leur Parlement National.
11.3 Pendant les réunions, les mesures préventives suivantes concernant la COVID-19 seront strictement respectées :
i. Contrôles réguliers de la température ;
ii. Tous les délégués sont tenus de porter un masque facial à tout moment dans les locaux et lors de leurs sorties en public ;
iii. Les délégués sont tenus de respecter une distance sociale d’au moins 1,5 mètre à tout moment. L’espacement des sièges dans tous les lieux de conférence sera conforme à cette disposition ;
iv. Tous les délégués devront se laver les mains à l’eau et au savon et/ou
se désinfecter fréquemment ; et
v. Tout Délégué(e) présentant des signes et des symptômes de la COVID-19 devront s’isoler et en informer le Secrétariat.
12. Hébergement à l’hôtel
Chaque Délégué est responsable de ses frais d’hébergement. Veuillez trouver ci-après la liste des hôtels recommandés. Les Délégués sont censés faire leurs réservations directement auprès des hôtels en mentionnant “The Malawi Parliament”. Il est conseillé aux Délégués de régler leurs factures d’hôtel avant leur départ.
N° | Nom de l'Hôtel / Lodge | Type de chambr e | Tarif (USD) (lit et petit déjeuner) | Distance du BICC | Coordonnées |
1 | President Walmont Hotel - (BICC) | Chambres King | 145 | 0 km | Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265 /993915550/+2659976450 00 N° de tél. : +2651789888 |
2 | Sunbird Capital Hotel | Chambres supérieur es | 125 | À moins d'un | +265888965877 +2651773388 |
Deluxe
Deluxe exécutive |
135
166 | kilomètre du BICC (3 minutes à pied) | |||
3 | Golden Peacock Hotel | Deluxe | 77 | 1,5 km (5 minutes en voiture) | +265991431030 |
4 | Wamkulu Palace | Elegant Deluxe (Simple) | 90 | 2,1 km (4 minutes en voiture) | Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265994620860 N° de tél. : +2651776764 /762/776 |
5 | Ufulu Gardens | Elegant Deluxe (Simple) | 100 (le vendredi et le samedi = 70 USD) | 4,5 km (8 minutes en voiture) | Tél: +2651794060/079 Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265888994060 / +265996945277 |
13. Excursions
Le programme de l’excursion sera distribué aux Délégués au cours de la Réunion.
14. Monnaie nationale
Des services de change seront à la disposition de tous les Délègues dans les bureaux de change en semaine et le week-end. La plupart des devises et des chèques de voyage reconnus à l’échelle internationale peuvent être échangés dans les banques commerciales, les hôtels et les aéroports internationaux.
En avril 2022, 1 USD équivalait approximativement (Malawi Kwacha/MK) : 1 dollar américain = 1 020 MK
1 livre sterling = 1 400 MK
1 Euro = 861,62 MK
1 Rand = 51,22 MK
15. Cartes de crédit
Les cartes de crédit suivantes sont acceptées dans les banques du Malawi et dans tous les hôtels et restaurants : American Express, Master Card et Visa Card.
16. Heures d’ouverture des bureaux et des commerces
Les bureaux et les commerces sont généralement ouverts de 07h30 à 17h00 du lundi au vendredi. Les heures d’ouverture des magasins varient, mais la plupart des magasins sont ouverts de 08h00 à 17h00 du lundi au vendredi et de 08h30 à 14h00 le samedi.
17. Climat et météo
La période entre mai et août au Malawi est une période hivernale, généralement une saison sèche et froide. On s’attend à ce que pendant cette période, les températures varient entre 11,1 degrés et 20,5 degrés Celsius.
18. Langues de travail du Malawi
L’anglais est la langue officielle du Malawi.
19. Approvisionnement en électricité
Au Malawi, les fiches et les prises de courant sont de type D (norme britannique). La tension standard est de 220 – 240V et la fréquence standard de 50 Hz. Prises électriques à trois broches.
20. Géographie et fuseau horaire
Le fuseau horaire du Malawi est GMT + 2.
21. Services d’urgence (numéros de téléphone) :
· Services paramédicaux et de premiers secours : 118
- Aéroport international : +265 1 700 899
- Salon VIP à l’Aéroport : +265 1 700 256
25. Personnes à contacter
(A) Secrétariat du FP de la SADC Yapoka N Mungandi
Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +264 81 3048395 Courriel :
(B) Parlement du Malawi
i. Coordinateur: M. Joseph Manzi
Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265 999 800 831 Email: com" data-ep-ab91b="jjmanzi70<s">gma" data-ep-b3a71="il<small> [">
ii. Coordinatrice adjoint :Mme Siphiwe Komwa Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265 999 145 392 Courriel : com"> [AT] " data-ep-b3a71=" [POINT] <">gm" data-ep-b3a71="ail<small>">
iii. Dispositions concernant l’Hébergement : Mme Maggie Chinsinga
Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265 991 567 326 Courriel : gma">
iv. Dispositions concernant le Transport : Mme Portia Sibande Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265 882 716 093
Courriel : [AT] " data-ep-b3a71="POINT] </sm"> [">
v. Dispositions concernant les Services de Protocole : Mme Gloria Dzidekha
Numéro de téléphone cellulaire : +265 888 891 424 Courriel : com" data-ep-ab91b="gdzidekha<s">
- CIRCULAIRE D'INFORMATION GÉNÉRALE - SESSION DE LA 51ÈME ASSEMBLÉE PLÉNIÈRE DU FORUM PARLEMENTAIRE DE LA SADC DU 7 AU 16 JUILLET 2022, LILONGWE, MALAWI
- NOTE CONCEPTUELLE 51E ASSEMBLÉE PLÉNIÈRE DU FORUM PARLEMENTAIRE DE LA SADC
- PROGRAMME FORUM PARLEMENTAIRE DE LA SADC 51E SESSION DE L'ASSEMBLÉE PLÉNIÈRE
Chers Collègues/Partenaires,
C'est avec un plaisir incommensurable que je publie cette déclaration ˆ l'intention des augustes Parlements Membres et Partenaires du Forum en vue de la célébration de la Journée Internationale du Parlementarisme le 30 juin 2022.
En cette digne journée, le Forum célèbre le parlementarisme sous toutes ses formes, y compris ˆ travers les Parlements nationaux, régionaux ou locaux en Afrique Australe. Il est reconnu que le parlementarisme ˆ tous les niveaux est la concrétisation dÕune démocratie opérationnelle et qui est fondée sur lÕÉtat de droit et le respect des droits de lÕhomme. Un parlement élu lors d'élections libres, loyales, libres et régulières est la garantie d'un système de contr™le parlementaire conforme ˆ la sacro-sainte notion de séparation des pouvoirs. Le FP de la SADC reconna”t en outre que le parlementarisme est une forme efficace d'interaction avec le public, et rend ainsi hommage aux efforts louables déployés par ses partenaires dans le monde, tels que l'Union Interparlementaire, qui se sont concentrés sur le thème crucial de l'engagement du public pour célébrer le parlementarisme en 2022.
Alors que le monde se remet lentement de la pandémie et continue de faire face ˆ d'autres défis sanitaires et économiques, les Parlements restent au centre de l'action de réforme. En tant qu'institution de consolidation de la paix, ils constituent le forum approprié pour résoudre les conflits par le biais d'initiatives représentatives, de contr™le et législatives menées avec l'approbation du grand public. Le dynamisme et la proactivité du Parlement peuvent donc dans une grande mesure contribuer ˆ faire en sorte que les conflits soient déjoués et que des solutions durables pour la paix soient trouvées ˆ travers le leadership et le dialogue. Par ailleurs, un niveau d'engagement cohérent auprès du public demeure un ingrédient nécessaire ˆ une démocratie participative.
Ë cet égard, le Forum reste déterminé ˆ mettre en Ïuvre l'Objectif de Développement Durable 16 sur les institutions responsables, efficaces, ouvertes et inclusives pour la paix, qui réitère l'engagement de renforcer la capacité des Parlements comme le prévoit la Charte Africaine de la Démocratie, des Elections et de la Gouvernance. Alors que l'Afrique se dirige vers une paix durable, le Forum continuera ˆ soutenir les Parlements pour atteindre ce noble objectif.
Vive, vive ˆ jamais nos Parlements!
Je vous souhaite sincèrement, Chers Collègues et Partenaires, une excellente Journée Internationale du Parlementarisme.
Mme Boemo M SEKGOMA
Secrétaire Générale, Forum Parlementaire de la SADC
Faite ˆ Windhoek, le 30 juin 2022
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL DURING STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS FOR THE SADC MODEL LAW ON PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS (CSOS)
10 Mar 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary Forum- Gamal Ibrahim - Chief of Economic Governance and Public Finance Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
- Distinguished Prosecutors from SADC Member States Who are involved in Prosecution of Financial Crimes and Related Offences;
- Mr Daniel Greenberg, Legal Drafter for the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management;
- Members of the Technical Working Group on the Model Law on Public Financial Management;
- Ms Caroline Kwamboka, Trustee and Founding Director of African Renaissance; and Member of the Technical Working Group on the PFM Model Law;
- SADC Citizens following proceedings on various social media platforms;
- Members of the Media;
- Staff of National Parliaments and SADC Parliamentary Forum
- Distinguished
- Introduction
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
It is indeed a great privilege and honor for me to address a distinguished gathering of fearless advocates, comrades, experts and practitioners working in the area of Public Financial Management. I welcome you today to this consultative meeting on the Model Law on Public Financial Management (PFM) hosted under the auspices of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
As you may be aware, the Forum is accustomed to holding widespread consultations for its Model Laws under development in view of ensuring that the Model Laws are responsive to the current needs and demands of the SADC citizenry.
The Consultation today takes, place after a series of successful consultations have occurred with SADC Line Ministries, Auditors General, AML/CFT agencies, revenue authorities, police representatives and prosecutors, to cite but a few. However, it was also necessary to engage with private stakeholders which are essentially Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are not publicly funded and hence have their own perspective on the state of the PFM framework of SADC Member States.
At this juncture, I wish to thank you for finding the time to attend today. The Forum has always held Civil Society Organisations in high regard, and furthermore valued their immense knowledge base, as well as their abundant contributions to State processes. In fact, many of you today already form part of the Forum's Partnership Framework, and we equally invite all CSOs today to collaborate with the Forum beyond the ambit of this august meeting.
- Why engage Civil Society Organisations?
I wish to underscore that the ongoing engagement with Civil Society Organisations is necessary since you are in touch with grassroot realities and constantly evaluate national and regional policy on good governance and PFM. You relentlessly work to promote good governance and thus ensure that PFM is kept under the radar.
The Forum also recognises that you are smart players in the realm of PFM and denounce corruption, fraud and bribery on a routinely basis. You follow up on Governmental measures and actions which affect PFM. Your celerity in uncovering PFM issues which are relevant to the public is also well known. In this regard, you are known to be guardians of truth and justice. Moreover, you engage with the press and ensure that PFM is constantly kept under scrutiny of the media. You are also enablers of parliamentary democracy since you interact with Parliamentarians and feed them information for parliamentary questions, for debates in the House, or for public hearings and campaigns. The PFM landscape is thus incomplete without your diligent work and input. Your contributions as CSOs to furnish reports for country evaluations relating to democracy and governance indices for Africa are notable contributions which have ensured that the information garnered is balanced, and show the progress made as well as challenges in an unbiased and fair manner.
I would also like to salute the commendable work performed by CSOs who are involved in sensitisation campaigns on PFM. Some CSOs have conducted tremendously effective work in ensuring that communities in Africa understand the budgeting process,the basics of corruption, and the PFM processes of the State, a knowledge which would otherwise remain completely unknown and far from reach for the layman. It is trite that sensitisation campaigns on aspects of PFM which pertain to the bribery of public officials and fraud are of paramount importance if we are one day to rid the region of such malpractices that are abhorrent to good governance.
- Expectations from the audience today
Today, we expect that as prominent CSOs of the region, you engage openly and frankly with the legal drafter and Rapporteurs on the provisions of the PFM Model law which are of interest to you. For instance, you may consider Part V on parliamentary control which provides for avenues and possibilities for MPs to engage with a number of stakeholders during Committee sittings, including CSOs. In addition, you may wish to consider the Offences section under Part 11 which deal with particular PFM offences such as maladministration and financial irregularities and discuss their appropriateness. In addition, you will equally be interested in Part IV which deal with the Appropriation of funds by Government through the budgeting process.
Section 60 relating to the SDG Budget statement and section 61 on the International Commitment statement will also assist you in holding the Government accountable on commitments taken and treaties ratified. Indeed, for the first time, the Budget document will need to be explicit about how budget lines are assisting to implement concretely the SDGs and other international commitments such as those in gender related treaties and covenants.
- Way forward and domestication
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
In terms of the way forward, I wish to mention that CSOs will be directly involved in the domestication process of the SADC Model Law on PFM since CSOs as private stakeholders will be entrusted with the crucial role of providing shadow reports to the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC), which is the dedicated Forum organ to monitor domestication.
In this respect, CSOs may be called upon to work together with other stakeholders such as prosecutors, AML/CFT agencies to provide shadow reports on the observance of PFM provisions contained in the Model Law. For CSOs who are interfacing for the first time with the Forum, you are kindly requested to share your coordinates and your country of origin within SADC so that we may get in touch with domestication initiatives when same are operationalised through the Oversight Committee.
- Conclusion
Without doubt, PFM issues in Southern Africa will not be resolved in a fortnight. Consistent sensitisation and advocacy will be required by CSOs to make the SADC region become a financial hub that is effervescent with robust PFM systems in each Member State.
CSOs will surely concur that without a strong PFM framework, the prospect of good governance remains dismal. Absence of good governance will in turn lead to corruption, fraud and abusive practices. There is thus a need to elevate PFM as a stepping stone with the aim to attain a true and functioning democracy where citizens live in freedom and reap the resources of the State with fairness and merit. We have no doubt that CSOs will assist the Forum in that noble and promising endeavour for a better and more equitable Southern Africa.
On this note, I wish you a pleasant session.
Ms Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary General,
SADC Parliamentary Forum 10th March 2022
**
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL DURING STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS FOR THE SADC MODEL LAW ON PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WITH PROSECUTORS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION OF FINANCIAL CRIME AND RELATED OFFENCES
10 Mar 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary Forum- Introduction
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
It is with singular pleasure that I welcome you, prosecutors of the SADC region, to this consultative meeting on the Model law on Public Financial Management (PFM) hosted under the auspices of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. As you may be aware, the Forum is the parliamentary arm of the SADC institutional framework, and it is bestowed with the crucial mandate to formulate Model Laws that may serve as guiding yardsticks for national Parliaments.
In this respect, you may recall that prosecutors of the SADC region were equally involved in consultative meetings last year in 2021 prior to the adoption of GBV Model law by the 50th Plenary Assembly of the Forum.
Indeed, elaborate consultations are the cornerstone of the methodology of Model law-making espoused by the Forum. Furthermore, the Membership of the Forum considers that engaging in consultations with key stakeholders is a testament to participatory democracy that is pivotal in ensuring that legislative instruments reflect the actual demands and needs of the SADC citizenry.
- Why engage with prosecutors of the SADC region?
Prosecutors of the SADC region have always been considered as eminent stakeholders who are directly involved in the fight against crime. For the purposes of the SADC Model law on PFM, the crimes involved include financial crime, corruption, money laundering, financial misappropriations, to cite but a few. The list goes long and I am sure you will concur that with new technologies such as cryptocurrencies, and other recent developments in the financial sector, the prosecution of financial crime requires the requisite knowledge, skills and competence. No doubt, prosecutors of the SADC region have conducted a tremendous job so far in ensuring the prosecution of financial crime and it is indeed due to your unique expertise that the Forum has deemed it appropriate to engage in consultations with you in view of informing the finalisation process of the Model Law.
At this juncture, I would like to add that we have already consulted with different organisations involved in the State's institutional framework including Line Ministries and departments, AML/CFT agencies, as well as police representatives. The engagement today with prosecutors will thus mark the pinnacle of the consultative meetings held with the Executive concerning the investigation and prosecution of financial crime and related offences.
We firmly believe that Prosecutors are highly relevant to the PFM framework. Prosecutors receive files from the Police and need to make the momentous decision of whether to go ahead with prosecution or not. They evaluate the evidence available and advise the
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who is entrusted with the discretion to prosecute or not prosecute, depending on the tenor of the evidence and the circumstances.
The Office of the DPP also guards against abusive police arrests, detention and investigation, since prosecutors check and verify all collected evidence and take a decision thereon accordingly in all independence and fairness. Prosecutors also appear in bail cases to object to bail of offenders involved in financial crime when there are serious grounds to do so, such as the risk of tampering with evidence or witnesses.
In most SADC Member States, the Office of the DPP is a constitutional function, which means that the position of the DDP is enshrined in the Constitution, and therefore it is entitled to act without the interference of any other person or authority. This also constitutes one of the reasons why we have deemed it appropriate to hold a separate consultative session only for prosecutors so that you may have the leverage to speak among yourselves and engage openly and frankly with the legal drafter.
- Expectations from the audience
Today, as lawyers, you are invited to consider the provisions of the Model Law in their entirety, and as prosecutors your attention is kindly drawn to Part 11 dealing with Offences, Maladministration and Enforcement. In addition, you will find that there is also a separate provision governing Offences under Part 16. You may further wish to advise on penalty and sentencing provisions by benchmarking with offences of similar gravity in your national jurisdictions.
You will further note that the PFM Model Law does not cover all the different forms of financial crimes but only the part that deals with PFM. It was deemed appropriate to consider the wide spectrum of financial crimes and offences relating to AML/CFT in a separate instrument to be developed later since at this stage, it was important to keep the legislative focus on PFM. In addition, you will note that provisions relating to prosecution powers have not been included since it is understood that these will already be covered under your respective Constitutions or prosecution laws. Your comments will thus be welcome from the prosecution perspective on the existing provisions of the Model Law, and on whether in your view these can work in tandem with your existing laws and regulations.
- Way forward
Dear Colleagues and Distinguished Participants,
I wish to highlight that once the Model Law will be adopted by the Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF, it will be subject to a progressive domestication process. While we fully recognise that prosecutors are not involved in policy processes concerning PFM, it is expected that prosecutors across SADC will kindly lend their support to push for the domestication of prosecution policy regarding PFM related offences. The rationale is that no PFM framework will stand in a sustainable way unless there are offences that can be enforced as a major deterrent to ensure future compliance.
You will thus be called upon through your national Parliaments to participate in domestication initiatives of the dedicated organ of the SADC-PF, notably the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC) in view of furnishing reports or shadow reports on prosecution policy. Your ongoing cooperation in that regard will be highly appreciated in view of ensuring that PFM frameworks are domesticated with the appropriate prosecution policy and sentences that can be realistically enforced.
- Conclusion
To conclude, I wish to thank you for attending this august event under the auspices of the SADC-PF. The Forum recognises that democracy depends heavily on the rule of law, which is itself reliant on the respect for law and regulations that is enforced by Offices of the Directors of Public Prosecution across SADC. Prosecuting agencies are catalysts to the respect and observance of the PFM framework, and they are the noble guardians of good governance and accountability. I wish to end by applauding the independent work carried out by prosecuting agencies so far which have made the SADC region a promising land where democracy can dare to make leaping advances, without hindrance or fear of reprisals.
With these hopeful words, I wish you a constructive session in engaging openly and frankly with the legal drafter and other interveners.
Thank you.
Ms B.Sekgoma, Secretary General,
SADC Parliamentary Forum 9TH March 2022
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MESSAGE DE LA SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRALE DU FP SADC À L’OCCASION DE LA JOURNÉE INTERNATIONALE DES FEMMES
Chers collègues et partenaires, c’est avec un immense plaisir que j’adresse ce message aux distingués parlements membres et partenaires du Forum à l’occasion de la célébration de la Journée internationale des femmes en ce 8 mars 2022 autour du thème « L’égalité entre les sexes aujourd’hui en vue de lendemains durables ».
Je souhaite vous rappeler en ce jour les efforts déployés par le Forum depuis longtemps pour promouvoir l’égalité entre les sexes, l’autonomisation des femmes et les droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive qui sont vitaux pour le développement socioéconomique des femmes et leur intégration dans la société, ainsi que pour qu’elles puissent faire entendre leur voix en faveur de la lutte contre le changement climatique et du développement durable. En outre, l’intégration de la dimension de genre, une budgétisation soucieuse de l’égalité entre les sexes, la Loi type sur la VBG et le Modèle de supervision tenant compte de l’égalité entre les sexes (GROM) sont des initiatives cruciales du Forum visant à faire progresser l’égalité entre les sexes d’un point de vue holistique qui comprend le fait d’accorder aux hommes et aux femmes des chances égales de participer aux prises de décision essentielles en ce qui concerne les réponses à apporter pour faire face au changement climatique. De plus, le Forum n’a cessé de souligner qu’une riposte efficace au changement climatique ne pouvait être apportée que dans un monde où les hommes et les femmes jouiraient de droits égaux et seraient traités sur un pied d’égalité en vertu de la loi.
De surcroît, le Forum profite de l’occasion offerte par cette célébration pour réaffirmer l’importance de l’égalité entre les sexes dans la région de l’Afrique australe qui subit encore les répercussions des inégalités profondément enracinées dont pâtissent les femmes, notamment lorsqu’elles sont confrontées au patriarcat, au machisme ou à des croyances traditionnelles qui encouragent la répression contre les femmes et inculquent des préjugés contre les femmes et les filles. Conformément à son Plan stratégique (2019-2023), le FP SADC s’emploie à réaliser l’égalité entre les sexes et l’autonomisation des femmes par le biais d’initiatives parlementaires régulières qui favorisent la progression sur la voie du 5e Objectif de développement durable relatif au genre, ainsi que d’instruments internationaux et régionaux qui, à l’instar du Protocole de Maputo, s’avèrent pertinents pour promouvoir les droits des femmes. L’autonomisation des femmes au moyen de l’action parlementaire aura une incidence directe sur l’état de préparation du monde pour faire face dans les meilleurs délais au changement climatique et pour réduire les risques de catastrophes.
Dans le contexte de l’Afrique australe, le Forum rend aussi un hommage particulier aux honorables présidentes d’Assemblée nationale/présidentes de séance de ses parlements membres qui, en tant que femmes, sont des exemples probants du fait que les femmes peuvent aspirer aux plus hautes responsabilités au sein d’institutions qui se trouvent à la tête de l’État. Elles démontrent que les femmes peuvent efficacement diriger les parlements qui sont confrontés à de nombreux défis en matière de gouvernance, y compris au changement climatique. Pour les années à venir, le Forum s’engage à continuer à œuvrer pour que les parlements soient à la pointe de l’action en faveur du leadership des femmes, de leur autonomisation et de la lutte contre le changement climatique.
Joyeuse Journée internationale des femmes en 2022 !
Mme B. Sekgoma, Secrétaire générale
STATEMENT FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE SADC-PF ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
08 Mar 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary ForumDear Colleagues and partners, it is with undivided pleasure that I release this statement to the Forum’s august Member Parliaments and partners in view of celebrating International Women’s Day this 8th March 2022 under the theme of “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
Today, I wish to reminisce the longstanding efforts of the Forum to promote gender equality, women empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health rights, which are vital for women’s socio-economic development and integration in society, as well as for giving them a voice to defend climate action and sustainable development. In addition, gender mainstreaming, gender-based budgeting and the Model Law on GBV, and Gender Responsive Oversight Model (GROM) are pivotal initiatives of the Forum which aim to advance gender equality from a holistic perspective that includes giving both men and women equal chances to participate in key decision-making regarding climate change responses. Furthermore, the Forum has consistently underscored that an effective response to climate change can only exist in a world where men and women have equal rights and are treated equally under the law.
In addition, the Forum wishes to seize the opportunity of this celebration to reiterate the importance of gender equality in the Southern African region which is still influenced by the deep-seated inequalities that affect women, especially when faced with patriarchy, male chauvinism or traditional beliefs that promote women repression and inculcate bias towards women and young girls. In line with its Strategic Plan (2019-2023), the SADC-PF is committed to ensuring gender equality and women empowerment through consistent parliamentary initiatives which advance Sustainable Development Goal 5 relating to gender as well as international and regional instruments such as the Maputo Protocol which are relevant to women advancement. The empowerment of women through parliamentary action will have a direct effect in readying the world to promptly address climate change and disaster risk reduction.
In the context of Southern Africa, the Forum also wishes to pay special tribute to Hon Speakers/Presiding Officers of its Member Parliaments who are women as they stand as proud examples that women can aspire to the highest positions of responsibility within organisations that are at the helm of the State. They demonstrate that women can efficiently lead Parliaments which respond to multiple governance issues, including climate change. For the years to come, the Forum pledges to continue to act for Parliaments to be monuments of female leadership, empowerment and climate action.
Happy International Women’s Day 2022 !
Ms B. Sekgoma, Secretary General
Capacity Development Session for SRHR Researchers and Budget Analysis Session Welcome Remarks by the Secretary General (SG), 26th February 2022
26 Fév 2022 Written by SADC Parliamentary ForumDear Colleagues and distinguished participants,
Welcome to this meeting. In my capacity as Secretary General of the SADC-PF, it is with immense pleasure that I welcome you to this regional event under the SRHR Project after nearly 2 years of successive virtual meetings. It is nice to finally see you face to face, and I hope this meeting will herald other physical meetings to take place in 2022 and 2023.
First, I would like to start by emphasising that you should not let your guard down regarding Covid-19 sanitary measures. During these few days, while we will be together, it is crucial that we observe social distancing and hygiene precautions in view of
ensuring that everybody goes back home safe and sound. Remember that we are not safe until everybody is safe.
Getting to topic, I would like to highlight the vital importance of this capacity building exercise under the SRHR Project. As you are aware, this exercise is earmarked to occur every year, especially due to the importance of the budgetary mandate of MPs across SADC. You will recall that the last exercise was held virtually in September 2020 in Year 2 of the Project. It was thus imperative that we meet again in Year 3 to revive the activity and take stock of the SRHR developments relating to your national Budgets. It is also expected that this session will be repeated in Year 4 of the Project to enable the gains with regards to budget analysis to be fully reaped.
Colleagues, it is trite that without the budget, nothing can be achieved. No school or hospital can be built and no SRHR service procured. All promises and commitments made concerning SRHR require funding in one way or the other. The state Budget thus remains the most reliable single source of funds for the State to conduct its SRHR activities including
promoting gender equality, preventing early and unintended pregnancy, helping children to remain in school, to mention but a few areas of intervention.In addition, the implementation of regional and international commitments under treaties, and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) all have budgetary implications. The budgetary mandate of MPs thus forms part of one of the key outcomes under the SRHR Project.
At the same time, this session was quintessential to introduce you to the new democracy component under the SRHR Project. Most of you would have been aware of this welcome development through my Internal Memo issued last January. Yet, the introductory activity was urgently needed as your reporting on Outcomes 8 and 9 under the new amended Project has already started last year. SRHR and Democracy are now intertwined, with robust democracy being a powerful driver to advance SRHR. As Project implementers, it was thus necessary to ensure that you are updated on how to approach the Project in the months to come.
This session is equally to understand how the budget process across SADC can be improved from a governance perspective, and who better than Experts from the Technical Working Group of the Forum to demonstrate this deficit. This would undeniably assist you in your thinking process as you engage MPs regarding your own national budget and propose avenues to improve budget governance.
This aspect is thus befitting to this session in particular as the Forum is as we speak developing the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management which has a dedicated chapter of provisions on Budgeting. It may interest you to know that under the Model Law, the Budget document presented to Parliament would need to have a separate description of budget lines which enable the advancement of the SDGs, UHC, and other international commitments such that monitoring of same becomes a straightforward task. The SADC region must move on from this situation where treaties are ratified without any mechanism for regular accountability with regards to domestication, and the yearly Budget must thus become an instrument for follow up. I am confident that once adopted, you will know how to utilise the Model Law and weave it with the budget initiatives under the SRHR Project.
Finally, I would like to add that this session is also a peer learning one where you will have the opportunity to present about your respective state budgets for the last financial year and demonstrate how has SRHR been promoted or advanced through different budget lines. As you are aware, the final years in every Project are dedicated to peer and cross-learning, and hence from now on we expect SRHR Researchers to be leading at national level as well as at the regional level. In addition, it would be appreciated if you could find time in the margins of this session to sort out your pending reports with Ms Pamela Nyika, the Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant of the Forum.
With these words, I wish you a pleasant session. Thank you
Ms B.Sekgoma, Secretary General,
SADC Parliamentary Forum 26th February 2022
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