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Signifying the high importance of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), high-level dignitaries will grace the official opening of the continental legislative body’s First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament.
Representing H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Hon. Ronald Lamola, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services will deliver the keynote address at the official opening ceremony of the first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament on Monday, 31 October 2022. The ceremony will take place at the Parliament’s headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.
The official opening session, which will be officiated by H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament, will also feature messages of solidarity from Rt. Hon. Baroness Patricia Scotland KC, Commonwealth Secretary General, Hon. Rawhi Fattouh, Speaker of Palestine National Council and Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
The first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament and its related meetings kicked off on 24 October with consultation with consultations on amendments of Rules of Procedures and meetings of the Permanent Committees. The Session is guided by the African Union theme of 2022; ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development.’
Several Parliamentarians from different countries will be sworn in as members of the PAP following elections in a number of African states during the opening ceremony.
Over the next few days African Parliamentarians will engage on various issues including a High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Africa under the theme: “Unconstitutional changes in government and political transitions in Africa”. The 13thConference on Women’s Rights is also expected to take place on the margins of the Ordinary Session, focusing on “Women empowerment and inclusion in governance.”
Additionally, the Permanent Committees of the PAP will present various reports for debate and adoption by the plenary, following successful deliberations during the August Sittings of the Permanent Committees. These include a report on the PAP Workshop on the AU theme for 2022; a report on the status of peace and security in Africa; a debate on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA); as well as recommendations and resolutions on Labour Migration in Africa.
The Plenary will further consider Model Laws in several areas pertaining to the work of the Permanent Committees. Among others, African Parliamentarians will discuss Model Laws on Soil Management in Africa; policing; cooperatives; gender parity; statelessness; and factoring.
The Plenary of the PAP is the main decision-making body responsible for passing resolutions. It consists of the Member State representatives and is chaired by the President of the Parliament.