ECOSOCC First Anniversary Message [October 8, 2008 – October 8, 2009]
One Year after …
On October 8, 2008, we set out together to make history. On that day in
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania the very first Permanent General Assembly of the
ECONOMIC SOCIAL and CULTURAL COUNCIL of the African Union was commissioned by
President Jakaya Kikwete President of Tanzania, the then President of the African
Union.
The first
hesitant, but guided steps of the interim ECOSOCC on that day concretized into
a solid foundation which was called upon to put into place the organ through
which the transcontinental institution which
the African Union is, was to interphase with Civil Society. The
proposition was to make the African Union People driven. After
putting in place the
Pan African Parliament, the commissioning of the ECOSOCC was the logical next
step.
We firstly set out to complete the membership of the ECOSOCC and it is our hope
that in the next year, we will be able to complete the process, and this will
include the bringing in of the Diaspora. Further, to date we have been able to
lay the basis of our strategic plan, and map civil society; also we have been
able to work on our rules and procedures, reflect on ways whereby our statutes
can be adjusted to fit the realities we have found in functioning and put in
place the Standing Committee and the different Cluster Heads. The
Clusters as we all know, are the conduits through which the bulk of the action
of ECOSOCC will take place. They will also liaise
with the African Civil Society to draw on the specific expertise of each group.
If the past year the basic elements of our edifice have been put in place,in
this next year we shall commence in earnest to ensure that the clusters
are functionally anchored to the relevant departments of the Union. In
this light, the beginning of 2010 joint meetings will be held with the
different departments so that uniform rules of engagement and terms of
reference are set out. Measures have also been taken for every member
country of the Union to be informed of the respective elected Counselors from
each country.
We have also requested that they be actively involved in the activities that
the Commission carries out in every country. It is truly difficult to explain
cases where activities and ceremonies of the Union are organized in member
countries of the Union without the participation of Counselors of the ECOSOCC
who are resident in that country.
As regards other pressing concerns the identification cards of all the counselors
are presently being processed and will soon be delivered. We have also
been able in the meantime to secure approval for the supply of AU Diplomatic
Laisser Passer for the members of the Standing Committee. We hope in time
we can mange to secure this for every member of the ECOSOCC.
We also now have a website in which we will put all ECOSOCC documentation and
create discussion and proactive forums. It will also facilitate the
pasting of notices and the sharing of information. With this website comes a
new email address for every member of the ECOSOCC. Information will be
supplied as to how people can proceed to change their passwords and gain access
to restricted areas of the Website. This website is work in progress and
its perfection will depend largely on the feedback and mostly criticisms we
hope to get back from ECOSOCC Counselors and other users.
Translation of documents might delay the supply of information into all the AU
languages. Rest assured, translation delayed will not be translation denied.
We must remember that we still remain in the building process of our institution
and pray that by the end of our four years we can render a
positive account of our stewardship. I want to thank you all for your support
and especially the members of the Bureau for the devotion and spirit
of cooperation that they have exhibited. Our very special thanks go to
our Secretariat for their support and patience. Finally and most
important of all we are greatly obliged to President Jean Ping and the entire
AU Commission for making this dream come true. The real gratitude that we
will
be able to place on record in the final analysis, will be the place we ensure
that ECOSOCC takes in the exciting history of our continent.
