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OAS and African Union Exchange Experiences on Human Rights and Democracy in Addis Abeba

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the African Union (AU), with the support of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), will meet to exchange experiences on matters of democracy defense and Human Rights on October 12 and 13 in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.

The objective of the forum, titled “Challenges and Opportunities in the Promotion and Defense of Democracy and Human Rights in Africa and the Americas,” is to share points of view to strengthen the fundamental issues for both regional organizations and obtain the development of concrete ways of collaboration to face these challenges.

The event will be inaugurated by the Secretary General of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, and the President of the AU, Jean Ping, who will present a general vision on the challenges the integrating countries of their respective organizations face in the task of supporting democracy and democratic processes to promote and protect Human Rights in their continents. Also, the Secretary General of IDEA, Vidar Helgesen, will present a brief view of the activities achieved by the organization to direct the support of democracy and elections.

The meeting in the Ethiopian capital, which headquarters the AU, is the second forum between the two organizations, after celebrating the first in July of 2007 at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. At that gathering, the creation of the first bi-continental “Democratic Bridge,” an initiative that established the necessary cooperation mechanisms to strengthen the political system in both continents through the promotion of democratic values and the defense of their institutions.

The Permanent Representatives of the Member States of both the OAS and the AU, as well as experts from both continents will be in charge of the discussions during the two-day encounter, which will end with a plenary session to present the results of the negotiations and agree on future actions to extend institutional collaboration and the exchange of experiences between the AU and the OAS.

The OAS and the AU have been working for several years on the strengthening of democracy in both continents. Their collaboration was created through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). signed in October 2009 with the objective of promoting democracy and strengthening institutions and democratic processes; conflict resolution; the protection of Human Rights and civilians, and social and economic development.

The OAS has been distinguished by its work on reinforcing democratic institutionalism with the States that compose it, an effort which has gone “even further than the electoral, including transparency and good governance, the strengthening and common action of the other powers of the State, social protection, better justice administration, gender equality and non discrimination, effective citizen participation, and, very importantly, the defense and promotion of Human Rights and liberty of expression,” in the words of Secretary General Insulza.

Understanding democracy as the best option to guarantee peace, security and development, the OAS has an extensive experience in matters of cooperation and electoral observations, peaceful solutions to controversies, promotion of effective public and transparent management, and support for the executive and legislative powers, among others.

Also, the hemispheric organization is a pioneer in the promotion of Human Rights since the approval in 1948 of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the first international document on Human Rights of general character. Since this moment, the American States have adopted a series of international tools that have converted the normative base of a regional system of promotion and protection of Human Rights, the Inter-American Human Rights System, which is globally recognized for its work on recognizing these rights, establishing tending obligations to its promotion and protection, and creating organizations intended to veil for their observance.

The agenda of the OAS – AU Forum is available here.

WHAT: II OAS-African Union Forum on "Challenges and Opportunities in the Promotion and Defense of Democracy and Human Rights in Africa and the Americas"

WHEN: October 12-13, 2011

WHERE: African Union Headquarters

Roosvelt Street (Old Airport Area)
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

Reference: E-885/11