The Pan-African Parliament : its promise for human rights and democracy in Africa

Abstract

"This study attempts to provide a picture of how parliaments have been contributing to the protection of human rights and democracy and how the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) can draw lessons from the different mechanisms adopted by these parliaments. This study consists of five chapters. The first chapter sets out the problem that this study aims to address and reviews existing studies that have touched upon the issue. The second chapter discusses the dynamics that lead to the establishment of the continental parliament by putting it in the context of continental efforts towards better human rights protection and democratic consolidation. It also discusses the objectives of the parliament and particularly its human rights and democartic mandate. The third chapter sets out a framework for analysis. This is done by examining how parliaments have been dealing with issues of human rights and democracy with particular focus on the European Parliament (EP). This chapter looks at the different structures and mechanisms that the parliaments have employed towards this end but also tries to look further into the powers and compositions of parliaments that [have] enabled them to use such mechanisms and effectively engage in the promotion of human rights and democracy. The fourth chapter discusses in detail the powers, functions and their implications on how PAP promotes human rights and democracy. The activities so far carried out, institutional mechanisms adopted and the potential role it could have and mechanisms it could employ by taking lessons from the design, internal workings, and mechanisms discussed in the previous chapter is provided. Finally the relevant conclusions will be made with recommendations on the way forward for the continental institution in terms of organisation, composition, structures and mechanisms it could adopt towards promotion of human rights and democracy." -- Introduction.