18th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee Discusses Racism and Slavery
TRIPOLI, Libya, June 29, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union (AU) have called on Member States to continue working hard in their efforts to restore Africa’s identity by restoring reparations for the historical damage caused by the slave trade in Africa. They said racism should be considered as a crime against humanity. To that effect, the Ambassadors stressed the need for the continent to work together, so that Africa can fully regain its rights.
This discussion took place on 25 June 2009, during the first session of the PRC, holding within the framework of the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, in Sirte, Libya, under the chairmanship of Mr. Ali Awidan, Libyan Ambassador to Addis Ababa, and Chairperson of the PRC.
The issues of racism, racial discrimination and the slave trade, were discussed as a follow-up of the Report of the Commission on the Durban Review Conference (Geneva, Switzerland, 20-24 April 2009) on the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa in 2001.
The report is aimed at providing information to Member States on the outcome of the Durban Conference and the progress made since 2001, when the first conference on the issue was held.
During this session, the PRC also considered the Progress Report of the Commission on the Implementation of the July 2008 Declaration on Sharm-El-Sheikh Commitments for Accelerating the Achievement of Water and Sanitation Goals in Africa. The Ambassadors recommended that this issue be submitted to the African experts for onward recommendation to be considered during the next AU Summit billed for Addis Ababa in February 2010.
The PRC further discussed the Progress Report of the Commission on the African Union Women’s Trust Fund. The official launch of the Trust Fund, which was initially planned for July 2009, was postponed for January 2010. The Ambassadors underscored the importance of this Fund and the need to support women for sustainable development. They however suggested the need for an alternative source of financing so as to secure the independence of the Fund.
The deliberations of the 18th Ordinary Session of the PRC continue tomorrow, Friday 26 June 2009 at the Sirte Conference Centre.
SOURCE
African Union Commission (AUC)
