2ND ECOSOCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY : THE SENEGALESE CIVIL SOCIETY SETS UP AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO PREPARE ITSELF FOR ELECTIONS

Dakar, Senegal - 19 August 2014 : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad of the Republic of Senegal hosted, on 19 August 2014, a sensitisation and motivation meeting of the civil society to prepare for elections to the Second General Assembly of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, ECOSOC.

The meeting was officially opened by Mr. Amadou Kebe, Secretary General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who underscored the decisive role the civil society must play in the building and consolidation of the African Union. The civil society has its role to play and must do so within the framework of ECOSOCC, he said, while exhorting the Senegalese to prepare to be worthy representatives of African citizens.

Taking the floor on behalf of the African Union, Mr. Jalel Chelba, Head of Division in the Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organisations (CIDO) pointed out that the African Union Commission was working to ensure that the elections are organised before the end of this year, so as to enable the setting up of the ECOSOCC Assembly latest by December 2014. In this regard, he indicated that awareness efforts are centred on states that do not have a sufficient number of eligible candidates for the upcoming elections.

«Those you will choose will share the responsibility of decision-making and orientation of the continent and work with other stakeholders to accomplish our common objective, the objectives of African citizens », Mr. Chelba said, noting that the elected members of ECOSOCC will also have the duty to account for their actions and maintain effective communication with grassroots organisations for the welfare of our society. He further invited the civil society organisations to show proof of initiative for which the African civil society organisations are noted, and to make ECOSOCC a tool for constructive proposals, even though it is only an advisory body. « This is the big challenge and heavy responsibility we came to ask you to assume », he added. (see full speech on the African Union website : www.au.int)

The meeting was an opportunity to make presentations on the history, role and functions of ECOSOCC, its activities and procedures, including eligibility criteria to the Second General Assembly. The debate following the opening session helped to raise issues and concerns that were, in the opinion of participants, obstacles to their joining ECOSOCC, especially the procedures, that many pointed out as the cause of the low membership.

The provision relating to funding in article 6 of the Statute of ECOSOCC was also named among the barriers to joining ECOSOCC, the participants decried. Many called for the relaxation of the 50% own-capital clause, arguing that in the current state of affairs very few organizations can meet this requirement. They unanimously called for the creation of a fund to help civil society organisations to enable them to perform their duties without being forced to resort to foreign money.

The meeting agreed to set up, there and then, an ad hoc committee that will harmonise, support and guide the participation of the Senegalese civil society in elections to the 2nd General Assembly of ECOSOCC.

It should be noted that the kick-off of this campaign, initiated by the Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organisations of the AU Commission (CIDO), in accordance with the decision of the Executive Council (EX.CL/Dec.849 (XXV), adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, was given on the 12th of this month, in Lusaka, Zambia. The campaign will continue until September and will cover the five regions of Africa before it ends.

On Friday, August 24, the third sensitisation meeting of the West Africa region will be held in Cotonou, Capital of Benin.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Jalel Chelba, Head of Division, Civil Society, AUC| Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organisations | E-mail: Jalelc@africa-union.org

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