Peace and Security Cluster: Report to the 11th Session of the … and Security Report... · of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM-Africa) 14-15 November 2010 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Peace and Security Cluster: Report to the 11th Session

of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM-Africa)

14-15 November 2010Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Peace and Security Cluster Report to the 11th Session of the Regional Coordination

Mechanism (RCM-Africa)

14-15 November 2010Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Prepared by the United Nations Office to the African Union(Coordinator of the Cluster)

DRAFT

Peace and Security Cluster: Report to the 11th Session of RCM-Africa

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Table of Contents

I. The Peace and Security Cluster ................................................................. 1

II. Coordination and collaboration; achievements, results and impact ............. 6

III. Communication/Outreach/Advocacy ........................................................ 15

IV. Challenges and Constraints .................................................................... 15

V. Lesson learned and the Way Forward ...................................................... 16


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I. The Peace and Security Cluster

The Peace and Security Cluster of the RCM-Africa, composed of three sub-clusters, is co-chaired by the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) on behalf of UN-Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and the Secretariat of the African Union Peace and Security Council. There are three sub-clusters: the Peace and Security Architecture of the African Union (AU) chaired by the former DPKO-AU Peace Support Team at the UNOAU; the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development by the UN-CHR, and the Human Rights Justice and Reconciliation by OHCHR. .

1.1 Meetings held, dates

The Peace and Security Cluster has continued to provide support to re-gional and sub-regional organizations in the areas of conflict prevention, crisis management, and resolution of ongoing conflicts, electoral assis-tance. It has also provided support for post-conflict peace-building mat-ters and human rights. During the second semester of 2008, the Cluster encouraged the AU Commission to comprehensively assess the needs of the different Departments of the AU, including the human resource chal-lenge, before the review of the 10 Year Year Capacity Building (CBP) for the African Union.

It met again on January 22, and June 11 2009 at ECA, and May 24, 2010 at the African Union Commission.

The Sub-cluster on the African Peace and Security Architecture met on October 14, 2009 at ECA, and the Sub-Cluster on Post Conflict Re-construction and Development convened on December 9, 2008 at the UNHCR-RLO. For its part, the Sub-Cluster on Human Rights, Justice and Reconciliation met on August 8, 2009, ECA, and on September 17, 2009 at the AUC.

The Peace and Security Cluster met on 18 October 2010 to welcome ASG Zachary Muburi-Muita, new Head of the UNOAU.


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1.2. Preparation and adoption of Three-Year Business Plans

Since the 9th Session of RCM-Africa Meeting also requested all the Clus-ters to formulate their business plans bearing in mind the priorities of the African Union, members of the Cluster appealed to the representa-tive of the AU Commission to make available to them the new Strategic Plan, 2009-2012, as soon as it was adopted. However, the Peace and Se-curity Cluster had submitted its draft business plan to the AU Commis-sion for consideration, pending the approval of the Strategic Plan which was later approved. The Peace and Security Cluster also launched a pre-review process of UN-AU cooperation on peace and security issues to better prepare for the overall review of the 10 Year Capacity Building for the AU that was supposed to take place by the end of 2009. The Peace and Security Cluster will draw inspiration from the adopted AUC Strate-gic Plan (2009-2012), particularly the Peace and Security Pillar, to revise the draft Business Plan, should the need arise.

1.3 Joint activities implemented in the cluster system

The Department of Political Affairs has carried out a number of activi-ties in support of the African Union. These include two meetings held between 2008 and 2009, the first UN/DPA- Peace and Security Depart-ment of the AUC desk-to-desk meeting on Prevention and Management of Conflicts, in September 2008 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, and another in New York, from 27 February – 1 March 2009. Between December 2009 and June 2010 two additional desk-to-desk meetings took place in Ad-dis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Gaborone, Botswana. The meetings involved the participation of representatives of Regional Economic Commissions, and identified the framework within which the cooperation between UN and AU would be strengthened.

Participants agreed on a set of recommendations concerning joint ini-tiatives in the fields of mediation, elections and conflict management. In particular, the 4th desk-to-desk meeting confirmed the increasing cooperation between the UN-AU-RECs and revitalized one of the main objectives of the 10Y CBP, which is to enable both the AU and Regional


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Economic Communities to act as effective UN partners in addressing the challenge to peace and security in Africa. Following a recommendation by the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG), the last two desk-to-desk meetings were expanded to enhance mainstreaming of human rights and humanitarian issues in the dialogue. Representatives from the Depart-ment of Peacekeeping Operations, Department of Field Support, UNHCR, and OHCHR participated in the 3rd and 4th Desk-to-Desk meetings.

From September 2009 to May 2010, DPA and AUC convened several weekly telephone conferences on conflict prevention and crisis manage-ment. Weekly teleconferences allowed both the UN and AU to exchange information on the crisis and to further coordinate their mediation and conflict prevention initiatives.

In terms of cooperation in crisis management, in November 2009 the Security Council Affairs Division (SCAD) of DPA undertook a mission to Addis Ababa with a view to supporting the strengthening of the AU Peace and Security Council Secretariat. SCAD-DPA is now expected to support the establishment of the Sanctions Committee of the AU/PSC which is mandated to deal with the issue of unconstitutional changes of govern-ment. UNDPA expertise and support were also made available to the AUC so as to operationalize the above-mentioned Sanctions Committee. It fo-cused on the drafting of a manual on AU sanctions.

Lastly, the Peace and Security Department and the Department of So-cial Affairs- Women and Gender Division of the AUC, in cooperation with DPA organized a workshop on gender mainstreaming and implementa-tion of Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The meeting took place in Addis Ababa in June 2010 at the African Union Commission headquarters.

Mediation with the AU

Within the framework of the African Union’s 10-year capacity-building program, the Peace and Security Department, through its Mediation Support Unit, has reviewed a two-year work program (2009-2011) on strengthening AU mediation capacities (attachment #1).The work program is an evolving document, and it might be amended based on emerging needs of the AU. AU-UN workshop on “Lessons Learned from


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the Kenya and Darfur Mediation Processes: Joint AU-UN Cooperation” took place in Nairobi, Kenya, April 17-18, 2009, followed by an exercise on Lessons Learned from the Somalia and Guinea-Bissau joint UN-AU me-diation process in Nairobi in August 2009.

The second joint AU/UN course on “Capacity Building in Dialogue and Mediation through Experience Sharing”, organized jointly with the AU and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) in the framework of the Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme for the AU was held at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi from 1-5 October 2010. There were 11 participants from the AU, 7 from the UN (both Headquarters and field) and 5 from the EU. RECs also attended.

The 2010 training course on “Facilitation of Dialogue Processes and Me-diation Efforts”, organized jointly by the UN Department of Political Af-fairs (DPA) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy will take place from 6 to 11 November 2010 in Sandö, Sweden. In the framework of the Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme, DPA undertook to open its training pro-grammes to participants from the AU. The AU has been invited to nomi-nate a candidate to participate in the training course.

The objective of the activities was to make AU-UN mediation partner-ships more effective by identifying positive experiences, best practices and challenges in each case. The overall goal is to arrive at a common set of policy, strategic and operational guidelines on AU-UN cooperation during the conceptualization, planning and implementation stages of mediation, and set up an action plan for promoting, disseminating and periodically updating the guidelines. Lessons learned from the exercises are intended to inform ongoing or future peace processes.

Building on some recommendations adopted at the two above-mentioned lessons-learned exercises, the African Union Commission (AUC) orga-nized a two-day seminar (October 15-16), at its headquarters in Addis Ababa. Convened under the auspices of the Ten-Year Capacity Building Program for the African Union, entitled “Towards enhancing the Capac-ity of the African Union in Mediation”. The meeting reviewed the AU and RECs mediation needs and formulated practical proposals for strength-ening their ability to undertake and support mediation in Africa as well as improving their collaboration with partners. During the meeting, the


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UN-DPA delivered a paper on a possible AU mediation strategy drafted by an International Consultant and it was discussed. Participants includ-ed AU Special Envoys and Special Representatives, desk-officers and Offi-cials from the AU Peace and Security Department, RECs Representatives, the EU, LAS, OIF, and Representatives from the Government of Finland.

The AU Mediation Strategy was finalized in early 2010 and is awaiting endorsement. Joint guidelines on the AU-UN mediation partnership are currently being developed with recommendations of the AU-UN work-shop on joint mediation partnerships organized in 2009. DPA-MSU is also providing support to the AUC for the establishment of an AU roster of African mediators.

Mediation with the RECs and AU

Joint preventive diplomacy and peacemaking initiatives between UN-AU and RECs were undertaken with a view to achieving resolution of crises in Guinea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Madagascar and the Comoros, among others.

The matrix related to UN/DPA-AUC priorities in the area of mediation and conflict prevention is attached (attachment # 1).

Support to the Panel of the Wise

In addition to the above-described support to AU mediation capacities, DPA funded a consultant to help set up the Secretariat of the Panel of the Wise (when?). The consultant is responsible for coordinating the ac-tivities of the Panel, and coordinating recruiting personnel for the secre-tariat of the Panel.

Elections

In 2009 and 2010, the EAD-DPA continued to support the work of the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU) of the Department of Political Affairs of the AUC. Since August 2009, the EAD has assigned a consultant to the DEAU of the AUC to develop and manage the database of African Technical Assistants and Observers; and a a capacity build-ing expert to assist in planning management and implementation of the Unit’s activities as well as the management of the Electoral Assistance


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Fund. A third consultant is expected to be deployed to train and assist a local database manager. He/she will be recruited by the AU. Further-more, the EAD is ready to provide the organization with another expert for the Electoral Assistance Fund.

1.4 Addressing cross-cutting issues: gender, human rights, health, culture, youth and emzployment, regional integration and climate related issues in the plans and activities of clusters

Climate change:

In June 2009, the Peace and Security Cluster agreed to create a working group, chaired by UNEP, that will help tackle the challenges of climate (ad-dress the effects of climate change) and its work on the continent. (stream-lining climate change in its work). This group includes UNHCR, AUC and UNLO-AU, and is expected to come up with concrete proposals on the issue.

II. Coordination and collaboration; achievements, results and impact

2.1 Subcluster on the Peace and Security Architecture of the AU

The UN Departments of Peacekeeping Operations/Field Support (DPKO/DFS), on behalf of the Sub-Cluster on African Peace and Security Archi-tecture (APSA), has continued to support the AU. In line with the Peace and Security Cluster of the 10 Year Capacity Building Plan and the AU Commission’s Strategic Plan 2009-2012, it focuses on the operational development of the APSA and the African Standby Forces (ASF). DPKO has also contributed to the development of the Continental Early Warn-ing System (CEWS) through cooperation with its Situation Centre and the AU’s Situation Room. Priorities for support are the development


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and operationalization of the ASF and the AUC capacity to plan, deploy and manage complex and multidimensional peace support operations (PSOs), including financial and logistics management. As requested by the AUC, support has been provided to the development of the ASF Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC), police capacity, logistic support concept and manual, Strategic Air, Sea and Ground lift, Continental Logistics Base (CLB), Medical Manual, ASF Evaluation Manual, and Civilian dimension concept. The DPKO/DFS also facilitated specific training requirements for the ASF and AUPSOD, such as Senior Mission Leadership and strate-gic and operational planning courses for the AU and the RECs/RMs.

DPKO/DFS continues to work closely with capacity building partners in support of ASF Road Map II, which is mainly geared toward developing, refining, and endorsing the various AU-ASF policy documents, and as-sessing the operational readiness of the ASF through a two-year exercise cycle, “AMANI AFRICA”. The activity will culminate in a Command Post Exercise (CPX) scheduled to take place in October 2010 in Addis Ababa. As part of the Core Planning Team for the Exercise, AUPST has provided technical advice to the AUC through various stages of the Cycle. Similarly, the Team has worked with the AUC in the development of ASF Roadmap III that should highlight areas needing reflection on the ASF concept, and help pave the way forward for the next five years (2010-2015) for the APSA.

DPKO facilitated a senior level retreat for AU and its regional capabilities, in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18-19 May 2009, as part of its coordination ef-forts with the AUC/RECs/RMs on peace and security.

Further, in a bid to develop a cadre of senior leaders for future AU man-dated PSOs, and as part of the ASF training and implementation plan, DPKO has, since 2007, been coordinating and facilitating various training programs designed for the AU and RECs/RMs. There is an ongoing col-laborative effort between the AUPSOD and DPKO to conduct a Training Needs Analysis for the ASF.

The business plan of the subcluster is attached herewith. (attachment #2)


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18 September 2009 SG’s report:

In accordance with the PRST 2009/3 of 18 March 2009, (consider) The Secretariat has carried out departmental consultations to ensure imple-mentation of the terms of the PRST 2009/3 of March 18, 2009. the Secre-tariat has been engaged in interdepartmental consultations to ensure its implementation. From May 5-8, 2009, DPKO/DFS consulted DPA officials in Addis Ababa with AU officials, UN and other stakeholders on strength-ening strategic relations between the Secretariat and the AU Commission and between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council. They also exchanged views on the implementation of the recommenda-tions on logistics and financial support to AU peacekeeping missions au-thorized by the Security Council. The outcome was included in the SG’s report issued 18 September 2009 on UN Support to African Union Peace-keeping Operations Authorized by the UNSC. Members of the Sub-Clus-ter discussed the content of the report during a meeting (where?) on 14 October 2009, chaired by a Representative of the AUPSOD. As part of the implementation process of the SG Report, AUPST has engaged the AUP-SOD on specific areas of support and AUPST has facilitated DPKO/DFS and DPA consultations with the AUC, Member States and AUC-Partners in Addis Ababa, to inform production of the SG Progress Report on UN support to AU, scheduled for October 2010.

2.2 Subcluster on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UN-HCR), the chair of the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) subcluster, and its subcluster members have continued provid-ing various forms of support to the African Union to meet its strategic priorities in addressing root causes of conflict, contributing to the cre-ation of sustainable peace, social justice, renewal and participatory gov-ernance.

The sub-cluster members’ activities were aligned to the six indicative elements of the PCRD policy in the areas-- security, humanitarian/emer-gency assistance, political governance and transition, socio-economic re-construction and development, human rights, justice and reconciliation


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and women and gender. The members have also assisted technical staff to build the capacity of the AU to meet its strategic priority areas relevant to the work of the sub-cluster and the sub-cluster members’ organisa-tion’s mandate and bilateral engagement with the AU.

They also provided assistance on policy research and development, reporting and information sharing, advocacy and awareness raising to the AU. Activities undertaken by sub-cluster members with the AU or in collaboration with other sub-cluster members toward successful imple-mentation intention of the PCRD policy and framework include:

a) Financial and human resource support to the AU in the develop-ment and organization of the Special Summit on Refugees, Return-ees and IDPs held in Kampala in October 2009:

One of the Summit outcomes is the historic, and the first binding legal in-strument, the AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of IDPs in Africa adopted by Heads of State and Government in Kampala on 23 Oc-tober 2009. The Special Summit also adopted the Kampala Declaration, which includes endorsement of the (52) Recommendations of the AU Ex-ecutive Council addressing the root causes of forced displacement and its prevention. The AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of IDPs in Africa has 29 signatories to date, ratified by one member state.

Members of the sub-cluster continue to embark on advocacy and aware-ness raising efforts through seminars, conferences and other initiatives organized at the regional, sub-regional and national levels to secure the 15 ratifications required to enable the AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of IDPs to enter into force.

The sub-cluster also assisted in the development of a Joint Plan of Action that was endorsed by the Heads of State at the AU Summit in Kampala in July 2010. The endorsement meant implementation of the outcomes of the Kampala Summit, namely the AU IDP Convention, the Kampala Dec-laration and Recommendations could go ahead. Technical support staff was supported by UNHCR and OCHA to the AU to aid in the development of the Joint Plan of Action.


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b) Development of a Human Rights strategy for Africa

This initiative is in line with the AU 2009-2012 Strategic Plan, Pillar 3 of which is devoted to “shared values”, which includes the universal and in-alienable human rights, fundamental freedoms, identity, opportunities, tolerance, participation, governance and development. The Strategy is motivated by principles of promoting good governance, democracy and human rights at the Continental Level. Though still at the Draft stage, sub cluster members (with OHCHR as the main driving force) have con-tributed technical, financial and human resources to facilitate the evolve-ment of the Draft strategy and contributed to the organization of several meetings / conferences to ensure full participation and ownership of all stakeholders in the development of the Strategy.

The AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) convened a CSOs forum on the proposed human rights strategy on 9-11 August 2010 in Accra, Ghana with the view to creating an opportunity for African hu-man rights CSOs to discuss and agree on their consolidated input into the human rights strategy. On this occasion, UNIFEM Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA organized a forum for CSOs working on women’s hu-man rights prior to the ECOSOCC forum on 6-8 August 2010 to ensure that CSOs working on women’s human rights participate and enrich the process and outcome document, which will be the CSO input into the human rights strategy. The forum aimed to ensure that the new strat-egy guarantees women’s human rights and responds to women’s rights issues on the continent. The experts meeting brought together partici-pants from various African women’s rights CSOs such as Akina Mama wa Afrika, , Alliances for Africa (AfA), Equality Now/Solidarity for African Women’s Rights, OXFAM , FEMNET, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) Ghana and West Africa offices as well as representatives from the AUC’s Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) and UNIFEM who made invaluable contributions to the three days delib-erations on the proposed human rights strategy for Africa. The experts were invited to participate in the ECOSOCC forum and an opportunity was afforded to them to bring on boarkey recommendations transpiring from the women’s rights experts meeting to ensure that women’s rights concerns are addressed by the final human rights strategy.


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c) Support to the Launch of the COMMIT campaign

In line with the Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.324 (X) of Janu-ary 2007, which endorsed the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Traf-ficking in Human Beings, and with the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership (Lisbon Action Plan, 2008), particularly the Africa-EU Partnership on Mi-gration, Mobility and Employment that calls for more action to combat trafficking in persons, the sub-cluster, under the overall coordination of IOM, continues to provide technical, financial and human resources to the AU in the implementation of the Ouagadougou action plan. The Launch of the COMMIT campaign in the various sub-regions jointly with the Regional Economic Communities is a major part of the support. So far, the campaign has been launched with ECOWAS and it will soon be launched with IGAD and the EAC.

Sub-cluster members have also helped in developing various regional and sub-regional initiatives and conferences to address emerging issues of mixed migration as well as trafficking of human beings and smuggling within and outside Africa.

d) Development of a PCRD Policy

In terms of the three-pronged strategy adopted in 2005, which includes support to the AU in the development of a PCRD Policy, two of the three objectives have been achieved to date. These are 1.) publication of as-sessment reports on the status of post-conflict recovery in 12 countries emerging from conflict; and 2) publication and dissemination of the AU PCRD Policy.

e) Support to the UNITE campaign to end violence against women and girls

As part of the joint initiatives promoted at the cluster level, sub-cluster members under UNIFEM’s direction participated in initiatives to sup-port peace and security in Africa. For example, the AU Peace and Security Council chaired an open session with the participation of cluster mem-bers and civil society organizations to address the status of women and children in conflict situations. The UNITE campaign was launched in July 2010, in Kampala, Uganda as a call to governments and all stakehold-


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ers to promote actions to end gender-based violence. Activities included a photo exhibition “Make Peace Happen: End Violence Against Women and Gils” during the Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government Summit in Kampala, Uganda on July 2010. A similar activity took place during the commemorative ceremony of the International Year of Peace in September 2010. Both activities contributed to the celebration of the Year of Peace promoted by the Peace and Security Department of the AU and are aligned to the PCRD’s policy on human rights, security, good gov-ernance, women and gender.

f) Support to the UN-AU Desk to Desk Consultative meetings

Between December 2009 and June 2010, sub-cluster members attended all desk-to-desk meetings that took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Gabarone, Botswana. The last two desk-to-desks were expanded to en-The last two desk-to-desks were expanded to en-hance mainstreaming of human rights and humanitarian issues in the dialogue which encompass the intention of the PCRD policy.

The business plan of the PCRD sub cluster is attached herewith (attach-ment 3).

2.3 The Subcluster on Human Rights, Justice and Reconciliation (HRJR)

The sub-cluster promoted further harmonization of plans between AU and UN in the field of human rights, justice and reconciliation, and ad-dressed health, gender, culture and regional integration issues as part of its activities. It strengthened the alignment of cluster plans and activities with the 10-Year capacity building program for the AU, the UNGA Resolu-tion 61/296, the strategic plans of the AU and the NEPAD Secretariat and relevant decisions of the AU and RECs.

In 2009, the HRJR subcluster program also focused on strengthening the capacity of the AU Commission and its human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights. In October 2007 the OHCHR organized a consultative meeting in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from October 19-20 on human rights, justice and reconciliation priorities for 2008-2009 on behalf of the Peace and Security Cluster. The meeting was chaired by


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the Head of the United Nations Liaison Office with the African Union and by the President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

In addition, OHCHR and the AUC organized a consultation meeting, May 8, 2008, in Swaziland on developing a human rights strategy for Africa, in line with the GA resolution A/61/296 on Cooperation between the Unit-ed Nations and the African Union, which calls for the development of a coherent and effective strategy through joint programmes and activities, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, within the framework of the implementation of regional and international treaties, resolutions and plans of action adopted by the two organizations. The participants made various recommendations relating to the ownership, nature, key components and legality of developing a comprehensive Af-rica-wide human rights strategy.

Within that framework, the HRJR sub cluster provided the AUC with an International consultant who conducted a mapping exercise based on a preliminary assessment of the human rights laws and mandates of the institutions, and mechanisms that are building blocks for the implemen-tation of human rights in Africa. The consultant submitted a draft road map on the development of a comprehensive human rights strategy for Africa and met with the members of the sub-cluster to solidify his find-ings. The report along with the expert reviews was presented at an Ex-perts Meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 26 to 27 November 2009 on the identification of core challenges and strategies in developing a comprehensive human rights strategy for Africa. Jointly organized by OHCHR-EARO, DPA-AUC and UNECA, and attended by representatives from the DPA-AUC, African Union Institutions dealing with human rights, UNLO-AU, UNHCHR, as chair of the PCRD subcluster, UNECA, RECs, and CSOs, the meeting reaffirmed the ownership by the African Union in the implementation of a coherent human rights strategy for Africa. It also encouraged the AUC to facilitate broad consultations with AU Organs and Institutions with human rights mandate, RECs, National Institutions and other relevant stakeholders in order to promote their full participation in the process.

In tandem with the event, three meetings had taken place in Banjul in March 2010, and in May 10-12, 2010, respectively: a consultation by the Cluster on the Universal Periodic Review, the African Peer Review


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Mechanism and the Right to Development and two meetings of the AU organs with human rights mandate convened by the AU to carry out ex-tensive consultation on the human rights strategy.

During the second meeting of the AU organs, participants agreed to speed up the development process of the Human Rights Strategy un-der the leadership of the AU, in partnership with the UN, civil society and other actors. Recommendations included the preparation of a first draft of the Strategy by a team of consultants, and its presentation at a validation workshop in August or September, 2010. Also recommended was the scheduling of a final meeting of AU organs in November on the sidelines of the 48th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The above-mentioned validation workshop took place in Banjul, The Gambia, from 4 to 6 August, with the OHCHR, ECA, UN-HCR, UNDP and UNOAU/Former UNLO-AU and ECA among participants. The Strategy will be linked to the development and adoption of the Af-rican Governance Architecture and it is expected to be presented at the January 2011 AU Summit for consideration and adoption by the African Heads of State.

Further, OHCHR, behalf of the sub-cluster, contributed to the organization of the African Development Forum VI in November 2008 on the theme ‘Gender equality, women’s empowerment and ending violence against women.’ OHCHR is currently actively participating in the processes to-wards the implementation of the key pillars identified in the Plan of Ac-tion based on the Consensus Statement of the Forum, and engaged in the planning of the ADFVII on climate change.

On behalf of the sub-cluster on HRJR, OHCHR has also participated in the two annual African NGO Forums as well as the Sessions of the Afri-can Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, Gambia from 2008 to 2010. OHCHR jointly commemorated key UN and African Human Rights Days with the African Union Commission in June, October and De-cember 2008. The matrix related to the work of the HRJR sub-cluster is attached (attachment #4).

Lastly, a series of meetings between OHCHR officials and representatives from the Department of Political Affairs of the AU Commission including two meetings of the subcluster chaired by a Representative of the De-


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partment of Political Affairs of the AU Commission between August and September 2009 has deepened the partnership.

III. Communication/Outreach/Advocacy

3.1 Communication Focal pointThe Peace and Security Cluster appointed a communication focal point in January 2010 who participated in the “First Brainstorming workshop for the mainstream of communication strategy in the RCM cluster sys-tem”, which took place in Dakar, Senegal, from 21 to 23 June 2010.

IV. Challenges and Constraints

4.1 AUC’s participationThe Peace and Security Cluster greatly benefited from the active partici-pation of the Secretariat of the Peace and Security Council of the AU, as a co-chair in its activities. The Sub-Cluster on the Peace and Security Ar-chitecture of the AU has identified some major challenges related to the development and operationalization of the ASF. The existence of relevant disparities in ASF development at the sub-regional level, and the lack of structural, institutional, and financial capacity at both the AUC and RECs/RMs levels have been identified as major constraints. Furthermore, UN support to the AUC has faced major challenges due to the lack of coordi-nation among the concerned stakeholders, especially the lack of capacity in the area of finance and CITS expertise. It is envisaged that the estab-lishment of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), will address integration, coordination, representation, and UN delivery of op-timum support to the AU as far as peace and security are concerned.

Also, the Subcluster on PCDR has experienced difficulties in identifying the AUC focal point on the issue of post-conflict reconstruction and de-velopment.


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V. Lesson learned and the Way Forward

5.1 AU Leadership and ownership and the role of RECs

Following the adoption of the AUC’s Strategic Plan-2009-2012, the Se-curity Cluster looks forward to revising the draft Business Plan, paying special attention to the Peace and Security of the Plan, if necessary.

The RECs should be closely associated with the work of the Peace and Security Cluster since the main objective of the Ten-Year Capacity Build-ing Programme is to enhance the capacities of both the AU and the RECs to act as effective UN partners in addressing the challenges to human security in Africa.

The AU should be encouraged to claim ownership of the whole process and to lead the effective implementation of the 10-Year Programme.

5.2. UNOAU and the 10YCBP

The September 18, 2009 SG Report on Support to AU Peacekeeping Op-erations Authorized by the UN introduced a new dynamic in the AU-UN relations within the context of the 10-Year Capacity Building Program. The current review of the Ten-Year Programme would certainly give both the AU and the UN the opportunity to agree on the priorities for the next three years and chart a new course to strengthen the strategic partner-ship between the two Organizations.

Following the recommendations of the SG in his 18 September 2010 re-port, the fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly established from 1 July 2010, the creation of a new integrated office, the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). Therefore, from 1 July 2010 UNOAU included former UNLO-AU/DPA, former DPKO-AU Peace Support Team, and former UN Planning Team for AMISOM.

UNOAU is headed by an Assistant Secretary-General. The new integrated Office is expected to increase UN-AU cooperation on peace and security issues.

Documents

Peace and Security Cluster: Report to the 11th Session of the … and Security Report... · of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM-Africa) 14-15 November 2010 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia