Combined Federal Campaign #9956

Peace & Security

General Statement

Without peace and security, there cannot be meaningful and sustainable development on the African Continent. There is much that can be achieved between the African Union and the African Diaspora with regard to peace and security. The following recommendations are just a sampling of what that partnership can make happen.

Causes of Instability and Diminished Peace and Security

• Poverty
• Absence of effective prevention and resolution mechanisms
• A lack of respect for human rights
• Proliferation of small arms and light weapons on the continent
• The absence of good governance and the rule of law
• State supported/sponsored terrorism

Recommendations to the AU

Working with Member states and civil society organizations (CSO), the AU, should:

• Facilitate the development of sound judiciary systems and a continental judiciary body.
• Help facilitate the development of effective detection and prevention systems to address the problems of small arms; light weapons proliferation and terrorist attacks that cause Africans to be victims.
• Encourage the effective development of prevention (early warning systems) and conflict resolution mechanisms.
• Address the issues of poverty and the need for real debt cancellation and or relief.
• Ensure the effective integration and inclusion of women and youth in every aspect of analysis and policy formation as related to all aspects of peace security and stability.
• Develop a global monitoring mechanism to raise awareness of the rights of women and youth of Africa and the Diaspora, especially in situations of conflict and instability.

What Can the Diaspora Do?

• Provide assistance and inputs via judiciary and legal experts, which could help establish and enhance the African Court of Justice.
• Working with Diaspora police and law enforcement associations located in the Western Hemisphere, to assess member states local capacity as well to help develop enforcement systems needed to help address and be better prepared to tackle these problems.
• Link member state and CSO with international organizations/institutions that provide training and assist with the facilitation of prevention and conflict resolution efforts.
• Advocate for debt cancellation/relief and increased Official Development Assistance (ODA).
• Provide the AU with alternative economic and development models that can be utilized and made available to its member states.
• Help the AU develop a data bank that can provide information about human rights abuses in the Diaspora, with special focus on women and youth.