[This is the version of this document from 1 October 2004.]
We, representatives of the African people meeting under the banner of the Pan-African Parliament during the Second Session held in South Africa on the 17th of September to the 30th of September 2004:1. NOTE the challenges faced by Africa in the area of Peace and Security and how these relate to and negatively affect Africa’s potential socio-economic development;2.FURTHER NOTE the study conducted by Mrs Graca Machel in her capacity as Expert of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, entitled "Impact of Armed Conflict on Children", in which it is recommended that children in armed conflict should be treated as a distinct and priority concern;3.RECALL Africa’s past commitments in global and continental legal instruments, including Resolution 1314 on Children and Armed Conflict as well as UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which highlights the need to pay special attention to the issue of Women, War and Peace. The report of a study done as a follow up to this resolution highlights the need to see women not only as victims of wars. Women are also survivors, peacemakers and leaders during the phase of reconstructing their societies;4.RESOLVE that the relevant committees of the Pan-African Parliament (.e. Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution; Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability; Committee on Justice and Human Rights) be mandated to study the recommendations of the Report by UNIFEM, entitled Women, War and Peace: The Independent Experts’ Assessment on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Women and Women’s Role in Peace-building, with the view to monitor and ensure follow-up work in Africa;5.FURTHER RESOLVE that the relevant Committees report to the House by not later than the Third Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament in 2005 on the recommendations to be made to the appropriate structures of the African Union.
