SADC Member States, therefore, have a lot of work to do to strengthen democratic accountability and be able to prevent, detect, investigate and punish corruption. The COVID-19 pandemic also aggravated corruption as corrupt elements capitalised on pre-existing structural weaknesses in the public sector.
Regarding the promotion and protection of human rights, Article 6(c) of the SADC PF Constitution also specifies one of the Forum's objectives as being "to promote the principles of human rights." This mandate is critical given that the narrative of human rights in Southern Africa has tended to be that of regression and contestation between the authorities, human rights actors, and activists. The situation was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic which tigered various human rights violations as states sought to contain the pandemic.
Parliaments are central to the promotion and protection of human rights. This is achiever through inter alia, ratification of human rights treaties, adopting enabling legislation to respond to treaties ratified, ensuring that sufficient funds are provided for human rights implementation and exercising their
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1 Article 6 (c) of the SADC PF Constitution.
oversight function. Parliaments also have significant potential to support the international human rights system and improve the implementation of internationally recognised standards at the domestic level.
2.0 Validation of the Knowledge Tools to Enhance the Role of Parliament in Curbing Corruption and Promoting Human Rights by the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights (DGHR)
Pursuant to its mandated to develop Model Laws and other reference documents for use by Parliaments in advancing democracy and good governance in the SADC region, the SADC PF has developed two knowledge tools. The tools are specifically designed to enhance Parliament's capacity in curbing corruption and promoting human rights. The tools are namely, the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the SADC region and the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Curbing Corruption in the SADC Region .
To ensure that the tools meet expected minimum quality and standards, both in terms of content and form before its finalisation, the SADC PF has deemed it necessary to subject them to the validation by the DGHR TWG. The validation process is designed to ensure that the tools benefit from the diverse expertise that TWG members possess.
3.0 Expected Outcome
The validation Session is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
i) Ensure that the knowledge tools comply with international standards and best practices;
ii) Ensure that the knowledge tools are efficacious to meet their policy objectives in an effective manner;
iii) Unsure the alignment of the contents of the Tools to stakeholders and
users' expectations and needs;
iv) Review the contents and format of the tools to make them ready for publishing and dissemination to stakeholders.
4.0 Participants
Participants for the meeting will be drawn from Members of the TWG for DGHR.
5.0 Dates and Venue
The dates for the meeting are 8th and 9th February 2023, with 7th and 10th being arrival and departures dates respectively.
PROGRAMME
Tuesday 7 th February 2023 | |
All day | Arrival of Participants |
Wednesday 8 th February 2023 | |
08:30 - 09:00 | Registration of Participants |
09:00 - 09:45 | OFFICIAL OPENING SESSION
Welcome Remarks by Her Excellency Madam Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum
Director of Ceremonies: Mr Sheuneni Kurasha, Programme Manager for Democracy, Governance and Human Rights, SADC Parliamentary Forum |
09:45 - 10:00 | Introductions, Meeting Objectives and Expected Outcomes |
10:00 - 10:30 | GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY & COFFEE/TEA BREAK |
SESSION I | |
10:30 - 13:00 | Validation of the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Curbing Corruption in the SADC Region
Tool Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 About the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments on Curbing Corruption in the SADC Region.................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments on Curbing Corruption in the SADC Region................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.0 Introduction 5 2.0 Background 6 3.0 Understanding the centrality of Parliaments' legislative, oversight, allocative and representative functions in curbing corruption.................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 4.0 Capacity Gaps for Parliaments in the SADC Region 9 5.0 Corruption trends in the SADC-Region 11 6.0 Rationale for developing the Principles and Guidelines 12 7.0 Target Groups for Principles and Guidelines 13 8.0 Enabling and not Prescriptive 13 9.0 Use of Terms 14 10.0 Understanding Corruption: Key Definitions for legislators.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 11.0 Types of Corruption 16 11.1 Systemic Corruption 16 11.2 Bribery 17 11.3 Fraud 17 11.4 Abuse of power 17 11.5 State Capture 17 11.6 Influence Peddling 18 12.0 General Values underpinning the Development of the Principles and Guidelines 18 13.0 Principle 1 Constitutional and Statutory Frameworks 19 13.1 Proactiveness in the legislative process as opposed to 'rubber-stamping' Bills 19 13.2 Tips for MPs in strengthening the substantive content of Bills relating to Corruption 20 13.3 General advice for Members of Parliament 21 14.0 Principle 2 Codes of Conduct................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 15.0 Principle 3 Oversight Tools and compliance Mechanisms................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 16.0 Principle 4 Independence of External Enforcement Institutions................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 17.0 Principle 5 International obligations on anti-corruption: Approval and Domestication.................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 |
18.0 Principle 6 Inclusiveness: Participation of non-state actors in corruption abatement 26 19.0 Principle 7 Establishment of Independent Fiscal Institutions: Parliament Budget Offices....................................................................................................................................... 28 | |
13:0 - 14:00 | LUNCH BREAK |
SESSION II | |
14:00 - 17:00 | Pre-testing of the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Curbing Corruption in the SADC Region Continues
Tool 20.0 Principle 8 Integration of Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 21.0 Principle 9 Committee Procedures: Consensus building 29 21.1 Tips for Parliamentarians 30 22.0 Principle 10 Public Participation in Parliamentary Business................................................................................................................................................................................................ 30 23.0 Principle 11 Enhancement of Oversight tools 32 23.1 Dedicate sufficient resources to ensure successful implementation of Committee Work plans relating to curbing corruption 33 23.2 Prohibition of funding by Government Departments 34 23.3 Parliament disclosure of external Funding by the private sector 34 24.0 Principle 12 Whistle-blower Protection................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 25.0 Principle 13 Parliament Specific Code of Conduct and Integrity Pledges 35 25.1 Integrity Pledges 36 26.0 Principle 14 Special Measures for Oversight of the extractive sector................................................................................................................................................................................................ 36 27.0 Principle 15 Strengthened Representation................................................................................................................................................................................................ 37 28.0 Principle 16 Efficiency and Procedural Regularity of Committees of Parliament................................................................................................................................................................................................ 38 29.0 Principle 17 Contract Negotiations and Approval................................................................................................................................................................................................ 39 30.0 Principle 18 Review and Analysis of reports from external oversight bodies 40 |
17:00 - 17:10 | COFFEE/TEA BREAK & END OF DAY |
Thursday 9 th February 2023 | |
SESSION III | |
09:00 - 11:00 | Pre-testing of the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the SADC region
LIST OF ACRONYMS IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V FOREWORD VI PREAMBLE VII INTRODUCTION 1 ABOUT THE SADC-PF 2 1. Definition and nature of human rights 3 2. Who has the duty to ensure the enjoyment of human rights? 3 3. Obligations (duties) of the State arising from human rights 4 3 1. The obligation to respect: 4 3.2. The obligation to protect: 4 3.3. Obligation to fulfil: 5 4. Duties of rights holders under the African Human Rights system 6 5. The right to an effective remedy 7 |
6. Can Member States restrict human rights? 8 7. Reservations 9 SECTION 2: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES FOR PARLIAMENTS IN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 11 1. Equality 11 2. Non-discrimination 11 3. Universality 12 4. Human dignity 12 5. Minority rights 13 6. Human rights-based approach 13 7. Effective participation of citizens 14 8. Political and social participation of an independent civil society 14 | |
11:00 - 11:30 | TEA BREAK |
11:30 - 13:00 | Pre-testing of the Principles and Guidelines for Parliaments in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the SADC region continues
SECTION 3: GUIDELINES FOR PARLIAMENTS IN PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS 15 1. Ensuring the representative nature of parliaments 15 2. Guaranteeing the sovereignty of parliament by protecting the freedom of expression of its members 15 3. Investing in knowledge and continuous capacity building of parliamentarians 15 4. Ratification of international treaties 16 5. Domestication of regional and international human rights treaties 16 6. Allocation of resources 16 7. Legislating human rights conscious and gender responsive laws 17 8. Repeal of human rights unfriendly and gender-unresponsive laws 17 9. General Guidelines and actions for Conduct Parliamentarians in the Exercise of Official Functions 18 SECTION 4: IMPLEMENTING THESE GUIDELINES 20 1. Prioritising Human Rights Implementation by Parliaments 20 2. Capacity building parliamentarians 20 3. Initial research by experts 21 4. Specific Recommendations for Regional Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy 21 ANNEX A: SUMMARY PRINCIPLES ON THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT IN PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS 23 ANNEX B: SUMMARY GUIDELINES FOR PARLIAMENTS IN PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS 24 ANNEX: C MODEL FOR PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEES 25 ANNEX: D THE CORE AFRICAN REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES 28 ANNEX: E THE CORE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS 29 |
13:00 - 14:00 | LUNCH BREAK |
14:00 - 16:00 | Evaluation of the SADC PF Project on " Strengthening Parliamentary Capacity in the Southern African Development Community " financed by the Austrian Development Agency through GIZ
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16:00 - 16:30 | Closing Session
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Friday 10 th February 2023 | |
All Day | Departures |
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR PARLIAMENTS ON CURBING CORRUPTION IN THE SADC REGION
