缅北禁地

Hailing the success of the self-assessment mechanism agreed among African leaders a decade ago, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said the peer review process has not only fostered more principled leadership and constructive national dialogue but has opened up more space for citizens to participate in the decisions affecting them.

鈥淭he APRM [African Peer Review Mechanism] has deepened a democratic political culture among African Governments,鈥� said Mr. Ban, opening a High-Level panel co-organized by the 缅北禁地Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, and the African Union on Africa鈥檚 innovation in governance over the 10 years of the review鈥檚 implementation.

The discussion kicks off a host of activities at 缅北禁地Headquarters marking 鈥淎frica Week,鈥� which spotlights progress in implementing the African-led growth and development initiative known as the New Partnership for Africa鈥檚 Development (NEPAD), and which this year coincides with the 10th anniversary of the APRM, and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union (AU).

Noting that the Peer Review began life a decade ago as a 鈥渂old initiative鈥� that showed the world that African leaders were ready to take action on difficult and sensitive problems of governance and democracy, the 缅北禁地Chief said: 鈥淭en years on, this approach has proven its value.鈥�

He paid tribute to the 17 countries that have completed self-assessments under the APRM 鈥� a mutually-agreed instrument encouraging action among African countries in political, economic and corporate governance standards, and agreed objectives in socio-economic development 鈥� and noted that the process has identified a number of areas where African countries need to improve.

鈥淚t showed the need to better manage natural resources, stop corruption, end xenophobia, address youth unemployment and take action against organized crime and terrorism,鈥� said Mr. Ban, adding: 鈥淎bove all, the APRM points to the critical need to halt unconstitutional changes in Government 鈥� and, when they happen, to respond robustly in defence of principle.鈥�

The 缅北禁地chief said the time is now to deepen and broaden the valuable peer review process so that more countries can benefit. 鈥淭he goal, of course, is for all countries in Africa to face this scrutiny, by themselves and by others. This is what African people expect of their leaders,鈥� he declared.

鈥淲hat the APRM does for governance, NEPAD does for development. Together, they help Africa to advance along the path of democracy and development to benefit the continent鈥檚 people,鈥� the Secretary-General said, underscoring the Organization鈥檚 commitment to the aims of the vital initiatives.

Turning to the broader situation on the continent, he said: 鈥淎frica鈥檚 prospects are strong,鈥� noting, among other positive aspects, that several countries are among the world鈥檚 fastest growing economies; fewer Africans suffer from extreme poverty; and more African women are finding work beyond the fields 鈥� including in parliaments and statehouses.

Yet, while prospects were improving in the Sahel and Mali, where the AU and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) are helping the 缅北禁地mission consolidate gains following the elections, Mr. Ban said he remained 鈥渄eeply concerned鈥� about the situation in the Central African Republic.

鈥淚t is essential to restore law and order throughout the country, protect civilians and ensure a return to constitutional order,鈥� he said, stressing that: 鈥淚nternational solidarity remains essential to addressing all of Africa鈥檚 challenges.鈥�

In an interview with 缅北禁地Radio, Ambassador Tete Antonio, the representative of the African Union to the United Nations, said that NEPAD and its Peer Review Mechanism furthered the overall effort to promote pan-Africanism and to strengthen partnerships that addressed the priorities identified by Africans themselves.

鈥淲hile celebrating this鈥�anniversary, we would also like to send our message to the world, here at the United Nations, which is the centre of international diplomacy,鈥� he said, emphasizing that 鈥淎frica is changing鈥� and he hoped gains made in all areas of NEPAD implementation, as well as other ongoing governance and structural changes, will help change the attitudes of the continent鈥檚 development partners as well.