The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) held a retreat in Livingstone, Zambia, from 4 to 5 December 2008. Presented below is a summary of the adopted conclusions.
The objective of the Retreat was to consider an appropriate mechanism for interaction between Peace and Security Council and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa within the framework of Article 20 of the PSC protocol. The conclusions adopted were:
a. The title/ name of the formula for interaction between the PSC and CSOs, which will be called the Livingstone Formula.
b. The modalities of interaction:
Regarding the procedural aspects, the Retreat agreed that the PSC remains the master of its procedures and decisions and that the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), as the consultative organ responsible for coordinating the participation of civil society in the work of the AU, particularly the Peace and Security Cluster, is the focal point and plays a consultative role in the interaction between PSC and CSOs. To interact with the PSC, CSOs must conform to the relevant provisions in the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the provisions in the PSC Protocol, especially Article 8(10c), as well as the Rules of Procedure of the PSC (rules 21 and 22). They shall comply with the criteria for eligibility for membership as defined in Article 6 of the statutes of ECOSOCC.
c. Mechanisms for facilitating interactions:
The chairperson of the PSC as well as the chairperson of the Commission shall be the main mechanisms for inviting and considering requests for accreditation of civil society representatives to participate in a PSC meeting.
d. Identifying areas of contribution by CSOs towards the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa, upon invitation by the PSC:
CSOs involved in issues of peace, security and stability and in conformity with the national law of the concerned States, and conforming to the principles of early warning system and if called upon by the PSC, may organize and undertake activities in the areas of :
- Conflict Prevention (early warning)
- Peacemaking and Mediation
- Peacekeeping
- Humanitarian support, Peace building, Post-Conflict reconstruction and development
- Provision of technical support
- Training
- Monitoring and impact assessment of the implementation of peace agreements
- Post-conflict situations
- Advocacy/ Publicity for PSC decisions
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