THE BRIDGETOWN PROTOCOL NATIONAL, REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT WORKING GROUP REPORT
HOME
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Back to Working Group ReportsPART III - WORKING GROUP REPORTS
Chairperson/Rapporteur: Margaret ParsonsINTRODUCTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
STRATEGIES
WAY FORWARDThe issues that affect and impact Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants (AADs) are currently not represented in any coordinated and unified way in critical international and regional bodies. There is, therefore, a pressing need for the Afrikan and Afrikan Descendant civil society to have an increased presence and participation in significant international and regional organizations and agencies including, but not limited to, the UN, UNESCO, WHO, Inter-American Commission for Human Rights, European Commission for Human Rights, CARICOM and the African Union. The creation of an international organization of AAD peoples will go a long way in effectively representing the interests of AAD in international and regional forums and treaty bodies.
In an effort to improve the coordination and increase the participation and representation of AAD civil society at all levels, particularly at the regional and international levels, the following is a list of recommendations from the Working Group on International, Regional and National Oversight.
1. We express our strong and full support for the Durban Declaration and Program of Action as an important tool to eradicate racism and, in particular, anti-Black racism.
2. We call for the speedy, immediate and full implementation of the Durban Program of Action, particularly the sections that deal with AAD.
3. We support the creation and establishment of an International Congress of AAD with representation of AAD peoples, including youth, from all regions of the world.
4. We call on the International Congress of AAD (Global Afrikan Congress) to conduct a comprehensive study that will attempt to identify why previous attempts to establish an international body of AAD failed in their attempts and ideals.
5. We call upon the International Congress of AAD to act as a clearing house to receive and disseminate information to AAD worldwide on issues of international, regional and national importance for AAD.
6. We urge the International Congress of AAD to act as the central organizing body to coordinate the full participation of AAD and to speak on behalf of, and represent the interests of, AAD in key international and regional bodies, meetings and forums.
7. We urge the International Congress of AAD to immediately develop a relationship with Afrikan governments and governments in the Diaspora.
8. We encourage and urge the International Congress of AAD to lobby governments in Afrika and the Diaspora seeking their endorsement, support and assistance for the establishment and development of an AAD international body.
International9. We call for the speedy establishment of the UN Working Group on AAD as agreed to in paragraph #7 of the Durban Program of Action.
10. We call on the European and Western governments to support the establishment of the Working Group on AAD by immediately nominating representatives from the Western European Group to the Working Group on AAD.
11. We urge states and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to consult with AAD civil society in their respective regions and the International Organization of AAD on the appointment to the Working Group.
12. We invite the UN Working Group on AAD to meet with and consult with AAD civil society and the International Congress of AAD at all stages of its work.
13. We invite the UN Working Group on AAD to attend the next World Conference of AAD.
14. We urge the International Congress of AAD to attend, monitor and work with the treaty bodies and structure of the UN Commission on Human Rights, in particular, the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Sub-Commission on Human Rights and the Working Group on Minorities.
15. We encourage work at all levels with networks and organizations of AAD to monitor the effectiveness of international human rights, trade, environmental and banking institutions in the protection and fair and equitable treatment of AAD.
16. We urge the International Congress of AAD to work with AAD civil society to develop concrete and effective strategies and measures to effectively lobby international and regional bodies for the promotion and appointment of AAD in decision-making positions within their respective organization or agency.
Regional17. We encourage work with governments in the Afrikan and Caribbean regions, and international and regional bodies, to promote and support unity among AAD peoples and states in the form of a Union of Caribbean States and a Union of Afrikan States.
18. We encourage work with civil society in each region to promote and create regional networks and regional umbrella organizations of AAD.
19. We encourage work with regional networks and organizations of AAD to monitor the effectiveness of regional human rights, trade, environmental and banking institutions in the protection and fair and equitable treatment of AAD in their respective region.
20. We encourage lobby and work with CARICOM and the African Union, and other Afrikan regional trade groups, to improve their international trade links and create a new international trade agreement or free trade zone among Afrikan and Afrikan Descendant states.
21. We urge and encourage the International Congress of AAD to immediately seek consultative status with the African Union, CARICOM and the UN.
22. We call on the International Congress of AAD to lobby states to take immediate steps to promote and appoint AAD to decision-making positions in their respective consulates and embassies in countries with a majority or significant AAD population in effort to facilitate and promote an international network of AAD.
National23. We call on the International Congress of AAD to work with civil society at the national level to promote the creation of national organizations and umbrella organizations of AAD
24. We encourage work with national networks and organizations of AAD to monitor the effectiveness of regional human rights, trade, environmental and banking institutions in the protection and fair and equitable treatment of AAD in their respective countries.
STRATEGIES1. The Working Group on International and Regional Oversight recommends the establishment of an International Congress of AAD whose aim is the improvement and betterment of living conditions in Afrikan communities worldwide. In addition, the Congress will have as its mandate the forging of greater links between nations and Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants.
2. The Congress should be comprised of AAD with each of the following regions having equal number of representatives on this international body: Afrika, Europe, Caribbean, Latin America, North America and Asia.
3. In addition to the regional representatives the Congress should also include 2 youth representatives.
4. Each region is encouraged to create a regional structure with 1 AAD representative from each country in their respective region.
5. As a criteria for becoming a representative to the Congress and/or to the Regional structure an individual should have a longstanding track record of working on issues of concern to AAD in their respective communities. They should also have the resources or proven ability to organize in their country or region and to disseminate information within their community.
6. Another criteria of a regional or national representative is the ability and willingness to represent all sectors and interests within their region or community.
7. The composition of the Congress should reflect the diversity of the global Afrikan community.
8. The Congress should ensure full gender balance.
9. The Congress should ensure that a particular region, nation or group is not disproportionately over-represented on this body.
WAY FORWARD1. Regional meetings already planned to take place: Europe (November 2002) and Latin America (December 2002).
2. Immediately plan regional meetings in the regions of Afrika, Caribbean and North America in an effort to develop a network of AAD.
3. Extensive outreach to be undertaken in order to involve Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants living in the Asia/Oceania region.
_________________________________
Please direct questions or comments to website@globalafrikancongress.com
Copyright © Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants
World Conference Against Racism 2003. All Rights Reserved.