Fifth High Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy Communiqué (Addis Ababa, 16 October 2015) 1. The Fifth High Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy was held from 15 to 16 October 2015 at the headquarters of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Meeting, which was hosted by H.E. Dr. Aisha Labara Abdulllahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC), in representation of Her Excellency Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, Chairperson of the AUC, was attended by: Mr. Pratap Parameswaran, Director of the Political and Security Directorate, representing Mr. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); Mr. Zoltán Taubner, Director for External Relations, representing Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe (CoE); Mr. Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director General Directorates A / B / C, Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation-EuropeAid, representing Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission (EC); Mr. Zeid Al Sabban, Director of the Africa and Afro-Arab Cooperation Department, representing Dr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Ms Jane Thery, Director for International Affairs, representing Mr. Luis Almagro Lemes, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Ms.Lorraine Kershaw, International Legal Adviser, in representation of Ms. Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Mr. Haile Menkerios, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, representing Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Mr. Yves Leterme, Secretary-General of International IDEA. 2. In her welcome remarks on behalf of the Chairperson of the AUC, H.E. Dr. Aisha Labara Abdulllahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs of the AUC, highlighted the importance of this High Level Meeting focusing on “Building Democracy in Conflict-Affected and Fragile States: the Role of Regional Organizations”. She emphasized that: 1 (a) The AU is demonstrably committed to the ideals of IRDD through its active participation and contributions to previous High Level Meetings and hosting of the fifth High Level Meeting of the IRDD. (b) Democracy-building, peace-building and development are three priority areas of the AU today in its quest to achieve the noble goals of the Africa Agenda 2063. (c) International and regional organisations must continuously collaborate in developing expansive and robust normative framework as well institutional mechanisms for the advancement of democracy and peace in states emerging from protracted wars and violent conflicts. (d) Visionary leaders and effectively administered states are panaceas for democracy and peace to thrive on the continent. (e) Africa has to ensure that its economic growth is inclusive, equitable and broadly participatory. (f) The AU is investing more in early warning, early response, early recovery in its approach to conflicts in Africa. (g) The AU is taking measures to ensure that diversity in Africa is constructively managed. (h) Increasingly incidence of electoral violence is on the decline since 2013 as we have witnessed in Kenya. 3. In his welcome remarks, Secretary-General Leterme highlighted that the importance of this year’s theme, “Building Democracy in Conflict Affected and Fragile States” cannot be overemphasized: our work in peace-building and democracy support becomes key for peace and prosperity. In conflict affected and fragile states, where institutions are weak or weakened by years of violence and conflict and lacking the capacity to respond to even the basic needs of their citizens, building effective, responsive and accountable institutions becomes crucial to ensure peace and prosperity. He continued stressing that as the only inter-governmental organization with the specific and sole mission to support sustainable democracy worldwide, International IDEA is proud to continue to coorganize the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy. International IDEA is privileged to have the opportunity to work with all of you to advance the agenda on democracy at the global and regional levels, and to identify synergies, discuss common opportunities as well as shared challenges in a frank and open manner. Regional Organizations have a key role to play to support democratic governance, peace and security. International IDEA believes that increased interregional collaboration and joint capacity-building activities constitute important opportunities to mitigate these challenges and strengthen the capacity of Regional Organizations. 4. In his Keynote address, H.E.Haile Menkerios, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, representing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted: “the United Nations is committed to working with regional organizations and subregional organizations in conflict-affected and fragile states to lay the building blocks for peaceful, inclusive ,prosperous and sustainable societies”. 2 5. The Heads and/or the representatives of the regional organizations and the Secretary-General of International IDEA had an open discussion on the theme of the meeting, “Building Democracy in Conflict-Affected and Fragile States: the Role of Regional Organizations”. During this meeting, they: 5.1. Recognized that Regional Organizations have increasingly become key actors in efforts to support democratic governance, peace and security and sustainable development; 5.2. While the United Nations (UN) Charter vests primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security to the Security Council, Chapter VIII of the UN Charter provides the foundation for cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. 5.3. Recognized the unique value of the Inter-Regional Dialogue as a special and only platform for engagement of regional organizations on democracy and related issues and renewed their commitment to inter-regional cooperation, peer dialogue and mutual learning highlighting their continued support to the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy platform at the highest level, including joining forces with relevant stakeholders such as civil society organizations and the UN to strengthen their democracy support efforts ; 5.4. Recognised that they have, in accordance with their respective mandates, established strong legal and policy frameworks and implementation mechanisms to support peace-building processes and the establishment and strengthening of inclusive and representative democratic institutions in post-conflict countries and countries in transition; 5.5. Highlighted the importance of the adoption of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. In particular, the heads and/or the representatives of the regional organizations highlighted how the newly approved 2030 Agenda gives a key role to regional organizations in ensuring accountability and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Even if national governments will be the key implementers of the Agenda, regional organizations will be instrumental to facilitate support, follow-up and monitor the progress of their member states towards achieving this agenda; 5.6. Recognized that regional organizations have different mandates and mechanisms to support development in their member states and throughout their regions. These include work in ensuring sustainable management of natural resources, the establishment of programmes to fight poverty and reduce both political and economic inequality, and efforts to develop regional agendas and goals; 3 5.7. Highlighted how regional organizations can play a key role in the achievement of Goal 16 concerning the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, including providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; 5.8. Recognized that notwithstanding the specificities of each region and the diversity in the scope of their mandates, they have a series of potential advantages compared to other actors when it comes to dealing with crises and with the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies. Not only do, regional organizations have a strong understanding of the socio-cultural context, but they are the first to feel the direct impacts of crises in their neighbourhood. Therefore, they are often better placed to address the root causes of conflicts, occurring in their Member states; 5.9. Congratulated the African Union (AU) on the adoption of the Declaration on 2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Agenda 2063. Agenda 2063 is a fifty years framework that sets Africa on the path to achieving integration, prosperity and peace The Declaration contains commitments to pushing forward women’s economic empowerment enhancing the Agenda on Women Peace and Security and enhancing women’s participation in governance, among others; 5.10.Recognized the efforts that the AU made in the last two decades leading to the establishment of a strong normative framework coupled with strong institutions and instruments to support sustainable peace and democratic governance in the African Continent. Among these instruments, during the meeting were cited the achievements of the African Governance Architecture, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). 5.11. In the course of 2015 elections took place in about 15 African countries, the meeting congratulated the African Union Department of Political Affairs for its efforts to prevent election-related violence by implementing measures throughout all stages of the electoral cycle to address the structural root causes of election-related conflicts in Africa, in particular the imperative of integrity, inclusiveness and consensus in constitutional and electoral processes. 5.12. Commended efforts that the AU has undertaken in collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) towards democracy promotion and peacebuilding in Africa. The AU is working closely with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure restauration of constitutional order and sustainable peace in Burkina Faso. The AU is also working with the East Africa Community (EAC) to resolve the ongoing political crises in Burundi for the sake of peace in the country and the entire Great Lake Region. 5.13.Congratulated ASEAN on the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a PeopleOriented, People-Centred ASEAN emphasizing ASEAN´s commitment to 4 promote the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance, social justice, as well as to promote and protect human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms. The meeting also noted the importance of 2015 as a milestone year in the history of ASEAN since the vision of creating an ASEAN Community will be realized by the end of December 2015. The meeting further congratulated ASEAN for its capacity in conflict prevention not only in term of normative and institutional development but also through its constructive engagement in preventing and resolving conflicts in the region. The meeting noted that post-conflict peace-building is a component of the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC) Blueprint; 5.14. Recognizing the contribution of the Council of Europe (CoE) to the promotion of democratic security, especially with regards to strengthening democratic institutions and inclusive societies, recognized that the CoE with its tool box of standard-setting, monitoring and assistance is a renowned benchmark for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. Further, the meeting noted the importance of the findings of the 2015 Report by the CoE Secretary General on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe that measured the extent to which Europe’s states are providing the specific institutional and cultural building blocks needed for our shared democratic security; 5.15.The meeting congratulated the Commission of the European Union (EUC) for the important role it plays in mediation and conflict prevention, as well as in peace-building and democracy support in conflict affected and fragile states. The meeting noted the current EU efforts to support institutional reform and rule of law in its neighbourhood, in particular in Ukraine, as well as in many other parts of the world and in particular in Africa, for example in Somalia and South Sudan. 5.16. Welcomed the LAS continuous and countless efforts to strengthen peace, security and stability in the Arab Region. The Meeting congratulated the League on the adoption in March 2015 of the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration whereby the Arab Leaders re-affirmed their determination to address challenges related to criminal practices of terrorist and violent groups and restore peace and security in the region; 5.17. Recognized the importance of the efforts of the OAS has in post-conflict peacebuilding, dialogue promotion and conflict resolution, providing invaluable lessons for strengthening democratic systems of governance; 5.18.Stressed the importance of the 2001 Inter-American Democratic Charter as the main instrument to strengthening and upholding democratic institutions in the Americas: 2016 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and this will be an opportunity to further discuss the challenges and opportunities that the OAS has at hand in order to continue consolidating its work in relation to the core pillars of the institution, democracy, development, security and human rights, with a special emphasis on social inclusion. 5 5.19.The meeting congratulated the OAS for its successful support of the Colombian peace processes through the Mission to Support the Peace Process (Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz or MAPP). The meeting also recognized the importance of the OAS’s Peace Fund, as a mechanism for conflict resolution in the Americas, including direct negotiation, good offices, mediation, investigation and conciliation, confidence-building measures, judicial settlement, and arbitration. 5.20.Welcomed the commencement of Dame Meg Taylor as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the first woman to be appointed to this role. The meeting further congratulated PIF on its first year of implementing the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, which had been adopted by Forum Leaders in 2014 and sets out a new approach for the Forum in developing and driving regional public policy to advance sustainable development, economic growth, good governance and security. The Framework articulates the Forum’s values, including the “full observance of democratic values, the rule of law, the defence and promotion of all human rights [and] gender equality”. It also expresses Forum Leaders’ commitment to inclusivity and transparency in regional political decision-making, and enables anyone to contribute proposals and ideas for regional action. In its inaugural year of implementation, the Framework generated significant public participation in submitting proposals for consideration by Forum Leaders. 5.21.The meeting also recognized the contribution of the Biketawa Declaration as a regional instrument for promoting peace and security in the Pacific region. The Declaration elaborates regional values on peace and security and establishes a framework for pursuing collective responses to security crises affecting Forum Members. The Declaration has provided the mandate for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, a significant example of regional cooperation through which all Forum Members have contributed, since 2003, to supporting the restoration of law and order and economic and public administration in the Solomon Islands. 5.22. Welcomed the growing strategic partnership between the African Union and the United Nations and ongoing efforts to deepen the partnership including through collaboration throughout the conflict cycle, and commended the recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 16, which calls for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and the provision of access to justice for all and the building of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 5.23.Welcomed the launch of the policy briefs series on Regional Organizations and Democracy Building. These policy briefs represent a new product developed by the Inter-Regional Democracy Resource Centre to support the work of regional organizations in building democracy. 6 5.24. Expressed their gratitude to the African Union Commission and International IDEA for hosting and organizing the successful Fifth HighLevel Meeting. 6. The Heads and/or the representatives of the regional organizations and the Secretary-General of International IDEA identified and expressed their interest in jointly advance the following in the framework of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy: 6.1. Harness the renewed opportunities of Agenda 2030 for Development, which allows regional organizations to play a key role in promoting accountability and effective implementation of global commitments. This will include identifying synergies and design joint activities that regional organizations can undertake to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. 6.2. Increase inter-regional cooperation activities in the framework of the inter-regional dialogue including boosting opportunities for peer learning and sharing of best practices but also strengthening collaboration opportunities to identify shared and successful approaches and solutions to common challenges; 6.3. Call for the implementation of the 2016 Work Plan of the Inter-regional Dialogue on Democracy on the theme “Gender Equality and the Political Empowerment of Women” as approved by the Senior Officials Meeting of the representatives of the IRDD that met on October 15th 2015. 7. The Meeting agreed to continue the constructive dialogue among the Heads of Regional Organizations on the theme “Gender Equality and the Political Empowerment of Women”, on the occasion of the Sixth High Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy in 2016. The Council of Europe expressed its readiness to host the Sixth High Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy. 7
