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Ki-Moon; UN Sec. Gen. |
(Being Speech By United
Nations Secretary-General at a high-level panel discussion on “Africa’s
Innovation in Governance through 10 Years of the African Peer Review Mechanism
(APRM)”, in New York on 21 October, 2013)
Thank you for this
opportunity to open this year’s Africa-NEPAD [New Partnership for Africa's
Development] week. I offer my warmest congratulations on the tenth
anniversary of the African Peer Review Mechanism.
The APRM has deepened a
democratic political culture among African Governments. It has fostered
more principled leadership and constructive national dialogue. And the
peer review process has opened up greater space for citizens to participate in
the decisions affecting them.
I pay tribute to the 17
countries that have completed their self-assessment and peer review. This
process strengthened national accountability. In some cases, the APRM has
revealed underlying causes of conflict — with recommendations to address them.
The APRM has identified
a number of areas where African countries need to improve. It showed the
need to better manage natural resources, stop corruption, end xenophobia,
address youth unemployment and take action against organized crime and
terrorism. Above all, the APRM points to the critical need to halt
unconstitutional changes in government — and, when they happen, to respond
robustly in defence of principle.
Now is the time to
deepen and broaden this valuable peer review process so that more countries can
benefit. The goal, of course, is for all countries in Africa to face this
scrutiny, by themselves and by others. This is what African people expect
of their leaders.
The United Nations
remains committed to supporting the APRM and the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development, NEPAD. What the APRM does for governance, NEPAD does for
development. Together, they help Africa to advance along the path of
democracy and development to benefit the continent’s people.
Africa’s prospects are
strong. Several African countries are among the world’s fastest growing
economies. Fewer Africans suffer from extreme poverty. More African
children are in school — especially girls. African countries are trading
among themselves as never before. More African women are finding work
beyond the fields — including in parliaments and statehouses. Regional
integration and the African Renaissance are a reality. I thank the
African Union (AU) and the NEPAD Agency for leading this effort.
Peace, human rights and
development are inextricably linked. That is why I travelled earlier this
year to the Great Lakes region with World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim.
We went together to support the Framework for Peace, Security and Cooperation
for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region.
We are also moving
forward with our cooperation on the Sahel. We have mobilized a billion
dollars for the region and we are developing an integrated strategy to address
humanitarian, development and security problems.
In Mali, the AU and
ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] are helping the United
Nations mission consolidate gains following the elections.
Relations between Sudan
and South Sudan have improved thanks to the contributions of the AU High-level
Implementation Panel led by President [Thabo] Mbeki. The United Nations
and the African Union are also cooperating constructively on Somalia. We
are continuing to seek sustainable resources for the AMISOM [African Union Mission
in Somalia].
I am deeply concerned
about the situation in the Central African Republic. It is essential to
restore law and order throughout the country, protect civilians and ensure a
return to constitutional order. International solidarity remains essential
to addressing all of Africa’s challenges.
Ten years ago, the APRM
was a bold initiative that showed the world that African leaders were ready to
take action on difficult and sensitive problems of governance and
democracy. Ten years on, this approach has proven its value.
On this anniversary, I
call on all partners in the international community to fully support both NEPAD
and the APRM. Let us resolve to usher in a future where all of Africa’s
leaders answer to their people in democratic Governments that are a model for
our world.
Thank you.
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