We discussed with great concern the longstanding denial and abuse of human
rights in most of the countries of Africa and the devastating effects of the
HIV-AIDS pandemic on our people.
We noted that NEPAD
- makes very few references to human rights and these are largely rhetorical;
- deals only superficially with the impact of HIV-AIDS upon peoples lives;
- does not guarantee self-determination for the people and contains policies that contradict or are incompatible with democracy and human rights;
- promotes regional economic integration but is totally silent on the rights of people to freely move and seek employment across borders in Africa.
We noted, further, that since the recent G8 meeting in Kananaskis, NEPAD is now being linked to the US agenda on 'terrorism' that could be used as a lever for the introduction of legislation violating basic civil and political rights.
We commit ourselves to continue our struggle for human rights in the fullest meaning, including political, civil, economic, social, women's, cultural and environmental rights.
|
