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Political Affairs

The African Union is committed to Strengthening a people centered Union through active communication of the programmes of the African Union, the branding of the Union and participation of Member States and other stakeholders in defining and implementing the African agenda.

News & Events

September 15, 2017
African Union Working Towards Institutionalization of Traditional African Democratic Culture
September 13, 2017 to September 15, 2017
Consultative Workshop to Engage Traditional and Informal Justice Structures and Judiciary to Promote the Rule of Law In Eastern Africa 13 To 15 September 2017 Kampala, Uganda
September 07, 2017
A Policy Forum on Strengthening National Human Rights in Africa Convened in the African Union
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Upcoming

October 20, 2017 to October 21, 2017
Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons 2nd Ordinary Session Ministerial Meeting 20 - 21 October 2017 Kigali, Rwanda

Announcements

August 01, 2017
Invitation to Media Respresentatives Press Conference of the Head of Observers Mission of the African Union (AU) to Present the Preliminary Declaration of the Legislative Elections Held on 30 July 2017 in Senegal
April 08, 2017
Release of Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to the 2017 National Assembly Elections, the Republic of The Gambia
June 21, 2016
Call for Papers: The Fifth Annual High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa: Trends, Challenges and Prospects, Yaoundé, Cameroon
January 30, 2016
Joint Press Conference on Project 2016 Theme Launch
January 21, 2016 to January 23, 2016
31st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)
December 10, 2015
A Message by H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi (Amb.), Commissioner for Political Affairs on the Occasion of the Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day
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Latest Speeches

Country where the Activity took place
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September 13, 2017
ALLOCUTION D'OUVERTURE PAR M. CALIXTE ARISTIDE MBARI CHEF DE LA DIVISION : DEMOCRATIE, DROITS DE L’HOMME ET ELECTIONS DEPARTEMENT DES AFFAIRES POLITIQUES COMMISSION DE L'UNION AFRICAINE
September 06, 2017
DISCOURS DE H. E. Amb. Samate-Cessouma Minata COMMISSAIRE AUX AFFAIRES POLITIQUES COMMISSION DE L'UNION AFRICAINE
September 06, 2017
ALLOCUTION PRONONCEE AU NOM DU RESEAU DES INSTITUTIONS NATIONALES AFRICAINES DES DROITS DE L’HOMME LORS DU FORUM POLITIQUE MAENDELEO,
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Latest Documents

March 13, 2017
2017 Election Calendar
December 13, 2016
African Union Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM) Concept Note
December 13, 2016
African Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM) Project Background
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Department of Political Affairs
The Department is the African Union Commission body responsible for promoting good governance, democratic principles, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as the participation of civil society organisations in the development of Africa. Key work includes promoting these AU shared values; implementing AU instruments on governance, elections, democracy and humanitarian affairs; coordinating AU election observation and monitoring missions; providing technical support to the electoral bodies; coordinating implementation of the African governance architecture and its platform; and implementing sustainable solutions to humanitarian and political crises, including through preventive diplomacy. The Department has two divisions: Democracy, Governance, Human Rights and Elections; and Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.
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Shared Values
Shared Values give us a lens through which to operate, making clear that certain principles apply to Member State dealings with its own citizens within its own borders. A focus on Shared Values can also be a useful aid in how Member States interact across borders.
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African Governance Architecture (AGA)
AGA is the overall political and institutional framework for the promotion of good governance in Africa by enhancing interaction and synergies between African Union organs/institutions with a formal mandate in governance and strengthen and their capacity to produce “Shared" agendas of Governance.
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Democratization, Human Rights and Good Governance
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Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The African Union has developed a draft Humanitarian Policy Framework, aimed at promoting greater legal preparedness of member-states to overcome regulatory barriers to effective cross-border disaster assistance.
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Elections
In the 1960s and 1970s, Africa reportedly averaged only 28 elections for the decade. By the 1990s, this had increased to 65 per decade. Between 2000 and 2005 alone, African countries held 41 elections . It is reported that in 2011, 18 countries in Africa are considered electoral democracies as compared to only four in 1991.
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Human Rights Strategy for Africa and its Action Plan 2012-2016
The Human Rights Strategy for Africa is a guiding framework for collective action by AU, RECs and member states aimed at Strengthening the African human rights system. The Strategy seeks to address the current challenges of the African human rights system in order to ensure effective promotion and protection of human rights on the continent.
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Enhanced coordination and coherence among AU organs, RECs and member states on human rights.
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Strengthened capacity of institutions at continental, regional and national levels for an effective human rights system.
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Ratification of human rights instruments is accelerated.
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Effective implementation of human rights instruments and decisions.
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Increased promotion and popularisation of African human rights norms.
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African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM)
Electoral observation and monitoring has become an integral part of the democratic and electoral processes in Africa. International, regional and national observers have come to play important roles in enhancing the transparency and credibility of elections and democratic governance in Africa and the acceptance of election results throughout the continent. Electoral observation and monitoring missions can also play key roles in diminishing conflicts before, during and after elections. In as much as the mandate of AUEOMs could differ from country to country, the continental body has a broad mandate to assess the quality and credibility of elections on the Continent through observation, monitoring, mediation, the provision of technical assistance, supervision and the conducting of post-election audits.
AUEOM reports


AUHRM

The African Union Human Rights Memorial.

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Human Rights Strategy for Africa
The Human Rights Strategy for Africa is a guiding framework for collective action by AU, RECs and member states aimed at Strengthening the African human rights system. The Strategy seeks to address the current challenges of the African human rights system in order to ensure effective promotion and protection of human rights on the continent.
Learn more
Human and People's Rights Strategy for Africa: Action Plan 2012-2016
The African human rights system is strengthened in order to deepen the culture of democracy and human rights in conformity with the objectives of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right and other relevant instruments.
Enhanced coordination and coherence among AU organs, RECs and member states on human rights.
Read more
Strengthened capacity of institutions at continental, regional and national levels for an effective human rights system.
Read more
Ratification of human rights instruments is accelerated.
Read more
Effective implementation of human rights instruments and decisions.
Read more
Increased promotion and popularisation of African human rights norms.
Read more
African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM)
Electoral observation and monitoring has become an integral part of the democratic and electoral processes in Africa. International, regional and national observers have come to play important roles in enhancing the transparency and credibility of elections and democratic governance in Africa and the acceptance of election results throughout the continent. Electoral observation and monitoring missions can also play key roles in diminishing conflicts before, during and after elections. In as much as the mandate of AUEOMs could differ from country to country, the continental body has a broad mandate to assess the quality and credibility of elections on the Continent through observation, monitoring, mediation, the provision of technical assistance, supervision and the conducting of post-election audits.
AUEOM reports
Shared Values
Shared Values give us a lens through which to operate, making clear that certain principles apply to Member State dealings with its own citizens within its own borders. A focus on Shared Values can also be a useful aid in how Member States interact across borders.
Learn more
The African Governance Architecture (AGA)
AGA is the overall political and institutional framework for the promotion of good governance in Africa by enhancing interaction and synergies between African Union organs/institutions with a formal mandate in governance and strengthen and their capacity to produce “Shared" agendas of Governance.
Learn more