The All Africa Conference of Churches, an ecumenical fellowship across Africa, recently unveiled the Pan-African Human Rights Award on April 6. This initiative aligns with the organization's overarching vision: "Churches in Africa together for life, peace, justice, and dignity."
Pan-African Human Rights Award
According to the Oikumene World Council of Churches, officials have stated that the idea for the award is derived from Africa Union's Agenda 2063, which serves as a blueprint and master plan to elevate the African continent to a global powerhouse within the next 50 years. Additionally, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights has also played a role in shaping the award's motivation.
"The statement has been long overdue," expressed Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki, the general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches. They are convinced that the award will catalyze raising consciousness on the significance of human rights in Africa. Moreover, it can identify individuals who might otherwise go unnoticed by other systems.
According to Mwombeki, a Lutheran pastor from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the All Africa Conference of Churches had previously endeavored to initiate an award. Still, regrettably, it failed to gain momentum. However, the most recent development has made significant strides. The organization recently introduced a five-member independent committee tasked with overseeing the award. This committee has opened the nomination process, which will remain open until April 30.
In a related article from Funds for NGOs, the European Commission (EC) recently announced the availability of grants to aid in harmonizing pan-African electoral capacities. The current reform of the African Union, specifically at the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department (PAPS) of the AU Commission (AUC), presents a chance to establish collaborative mechanisms that unite various electoral experts around shared principles and goals.
In addition, to achieve its objective, it is crucial to establish a more systematic approach toward collaborating with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) involved in electoral monitoring.
It will reportedly facilitate aligning their electoral procedures with the African Union (AU). The aim is to promote the adoption of the subsidiarity principle, which could lead to a more effective allocation of responsibilities between the continental and regional tiers.
As mentioned, it is imperative to establish and reinforce a Continental Community of Electoral Practitioners to achieve its goal. This community should actively engage with a range of AU organs, RECs, and other electoral stakeholders, including civil society, national electoral management bodies (EMBs), academia, and experts, in a structured and collaborative manner. It will provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices and collectively analyzing lessons learned from electoral operations.
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All Africa Conference of Churches
The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) is a prominent ecumenical organization spanning the continent, representing a vast community of over 140 million Christians. It is the most extensive organization of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and Indigenous churches on the African continent. This organization proudly stands as a member of the global ecumenical network.
Furthermore, the AACC is a community of 193 members, consisting of Churches, National Councils of Churches (NCCs), theological and lay training institutions, and other Christian organizations. These members are spread across 42 African countries, united in their shared faith and commitment to their communities.
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