The Committees

Peace and Security Council – PSC

 

The Peace and Security Council was established by the Assembly of the African Union in 2003. The purpose of its creation was to establish an organ, which is able deal with issues regarding peace, security and stability in Africa in an efficient manner. Its key powers are the prevention of conflicts and preventive diplomacy, the management and the resolution of conflicts and crisis situations as well as the encouragement of peace-building. The Pease and Security Council consists of 15 members, who are chosen according to regional criteria, including the principle of equitable national rotation, while five among its members are elected for a three-years term and ten for a two-years term.

 

For further information:

http://www.au.int/en/organs/psc

 

Economic, Social and Cultural Council – ECOSOCC

 

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council was established by the Assembly of the African Union as an advisory organ in 2004. Its major tasks are the discussion and promotion of the objectives, visions and policies of the AU and the provision of consultancy services. As the ECOSOCC is composed of representatives of African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), it provides the opportunity of active public participation in AU policy making and thus functions as a link between the AU and the people. Each member state is represented by two CSOs. The members of the ECOSOCC are working in ten different committees, which focus on various focal points at the reginal or continental level, for instance Social Affairs & Health, Trade & Industry, Peace and Security and Diaspora. The ECOSOCC has its own General Assembly.

 

For further information:

http://www.au.int/en/organs/ecosocc

http://pages.au.int/ECOSOCC

http://pages.au.int/ECOSOCC

 

African Commission on Human and Peoples` Rights – ACHPR

 

The African Commission on Human and Peoples` Rights belongs to the Judicial, Human Rights and Legal Organs of the AU and was inaugurated in 1987 under the precursor of the AU, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The ACHPR’s responsibility is the promotion and protection of human and peoples ‘rights. The ACHPR´s authority is only quasi-judicial as the commission only has the capacity to give recommendations, which are not legally binding. The 11 members of ACHPR are elected by the Assembly of African Union, while they are not representing their country’s policies but acting in their personal capacity. Therefore, senior civil servants and diplomatic representatives are excluded as candidates.

 

For further information:

http://www.achpr.org/

https://www.au.int/org

 

New partnership of Africa´s Development Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee – NEPAD HSGOC

 

NEPAD was founded as an economic development programme by five African states in 2001. In 2010 the AU established the NEPAD HSGOC as a sub-committee of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government to include NEDAP into the working process of the African Union. Through this step the NEPAD Secretariat was changed into the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) and became a technical arm of the AU. Its tasks are the eradication of poverty and the marginalization of the African continent, the promotion of sustainable development and the empowerment of women. The Agency implemented four Investment programmes: Human Capital Development; Industrialisation, Science, Technology and Innovation; Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade; Natural Resources Governance and Food Security. It consists of 20 members, the five initial founders and 15 elected member states for two-year terms.

 

For further information:

http://www.nepad.org/

 

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child – ACERWC

 

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child is a sub-committee of the Judicial, Human Rights and Legal Organs, and has been officially in charge since 1999. While contributing to the protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of children, ACERWC has the capacity to make recommendations to governments or local institutions. In 2016, the committee adopted the Agenda 2040, Africa´s Agenda for children: Fostering an Africa Fit for Children. The 11 members act in their personal capacity and are not representing their countries’ policy. The criteria to become a member are a high moral standard, personal integrity and impartiality.

 

For further information:

http://www.acerwc.org/

https://www.au.int/organs/cj

 

Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change – CAHOSCC

 

The Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change is a sub-committee to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and was established in 2009, with 10 members. Through this committee the AU intends to discuss issues concerning climate change, furthermore the committee functions as Africa’s representative of climate change related policies. The committee is working on strategies to deal with climate change in Africa and on climate change related agreements between states and regional and international institutions. The CA HOSCC’s aims are the prevention of climate change and to find ways to combat the effects of climate change.

 

For further information:

http://www.au.int/en/search/node/cahoscc

http://www.climdev-africa.org/content/africa-post-2015-climate-change-agreement

http://cap.africa-platform.org/resources/draft-african-union-strategy-climate-change

 

Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate – CIDO

 

The Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate belongs to the African Union Commission and has a unit in the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). CIDO connects the AU with non-state actors, Civil Society Organizations and other relevant stakeholders for the purpose of the implementation of AU policies in member states. CIDO’s major aims are to ensure that the people are provided with the opportunity of public participation and that their interests are considered in the visions and policies of the AU. Additionally, CIDO would like to ensure that the visions and policies of the AU are realized in all spheres of life including situations of daily life. Another focus area of CIDO is the African diaspora and its impacts on society.

 

For further information:

http://www.au.int/en/cido

http://pages.au.int/cido

 

 

Community of Sahel-Saharan States – CEN-SAD

 

The Community of Sahel-Saharan States is one of the eight African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), which are officially recognized by the AU. CEN-SAD was established in 1998 and has 29 member states, which are located around the Sahel-Sahara region. The major objectives of CEN-SAD are to increase cooperation between member states regarding socio-economic, cultural and political issues. CEN-SAD is cooperating with the other RECs and the AU. CEN-SAD has its own organs, including an Executive Council and the Sahel-Saharan Investment and Trade Bank. The main areas of focus of CEN-SAD are economy, security and governance.

 

For further information:

http://www.censad.org/

http://www.au.int/en/recs/censad