While offering her keynote address to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on behalf of the President of South Africa, H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the official opening ceremony of Permanent Committees of the sixth Parliament of PAP in Midrand, South Africa (SA), Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Candice Mashego-Dlamini commended the African legislators for their resolve and commitment aimed at the realisation of the African Union theme of the year.

The meeting is held under the African Union theme, “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”

“It is worth noting that the PAP sitting takes place on the backdrop of a successful 36th Africa Union summit held at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia which urged the AU member states to double the spirit of Pan-Africanism, solidarity and brotherhood by accelerating the operationalisation of the AfCFTA,” said Mashego-Dhlamini.

“In this regard hosting the PAP Committee Sitting under AU 2023 theme is a clear demonstration of the PAP’s resolve and commitment to working towards the realisation of this significant African Union (AU) strategic policy framework.”

Mashego-Dhlamini also mentioned that PAP has to complete work done by AU founding fathers to ensure that the continent occupies its rightful place in history while restoring its dignity.

“PAP’s oversight role is important, especially in pursuit of fostering growth and prosperity in Africa. PAP remains an integral player in the realisation of Africa that we want, as Pan Africanism drives unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity,” she added.

She also said she is looking forward to PAP’s intervention in resolving child and human trafficking on the continent.

“We look forward to your continued efforts to interrogate the Ten-year AU Action Plan to end child labour, forced labour and human trafficking with a view to ensuring implementation at the national level to protect our children and also our nationals from trafficking across the borders.

“The work of the parliament is indeed central to influence the continental policy formulation, ranging from statelessness, migration and labour migration governance, place of traditional medicine in African health systems, and renewable energy and carbon trading,” she said.

Meanwhile, Judge of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Tujilane R. Chizumila has also offered her solidarity message highlighting that the continental court is willing to partner with the PAP in protecting human rights across the continent.

“PAP plays a critical role in advancing issues to do with human rights and democracy in Africa. We are committed to working closely with PAP to protect human rights as we believe that our working together can help protect Human Rights in Africa,” said Chizumila while emphasizing the critical role PAP plays in “enacting laws that uphold human rights and women’s rights”