Luanda (Angola), Wednesday 21st February 2024: Members of Parliament of the National Assembly of Botswana, Hon. Sam J Brooks and Hon. Caterpillar Hikuama are participating in the 64th Session of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly and the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, which is currently taking place from the 17th – 21st February 2024 in Luanda, Angola.
A total of 79 OACPS Member States and representatives of the European Parliament Delegation to the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will attend the inaugural session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly that takes place today, on the 21st of February 2024. This is the inaugural session since the signing of the Samoa Agreement in November 2023.
The Samoa Agreement is a new strategic framework for relations between the EU and the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, covering six priority areas, namely democracy and human rights, sustainable economic development and growth, climate change, human and social development, peace, security and migration and mobility.
The opening session occurred in the presence of the Vice-President of the Republic of Angola, Her Excellency Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco Da Costa, and the President of the National Assembly of Angola, Her Excellency Carolina Cerqueira. The session is co-chaired by Co-President Hon. Ana Rita Sithole, a Member of Parliament from Mozambique and a Member of the European Parliament, Hon. Carlos Zorrinho.
Following the opening session, there will be two debates, with the intervention of the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, H.E Jutta Urpilainen, and Fabricio Cardone, Professor of Political Science at the University of Glasgow in the UK.
During the debate, Member States will discuss strategies and tools for implementing the Samoa Agreement.
The Joint Parliamentary Assembly aims to promote a democratic process through dialogue and consultations to strengthen a partnership between equals, thereby promoting sustainable development in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The Assembly, therefore, embodies democratic ideals, dialogue and debate as well as genuine exchange of ideas that characterise global governance.
Before convening the 1st Session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Members of Parliament participated in the 64th Session of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly, which was held from 17th -18th February 2024.
Members of Parliament also participated in the Women’s Forum, which focused on topical issues such as gender equality and gender-based violence. The forum is regularly organised on the assemblies’ margins, providing a platform for women to play an active role in national, regional and policy-making processes.
The delegation also attended a youth forum where discussions centred around issues that affect young people, such as unemployment, capacity-building opportunities, and youth participation in politics and governance issues. The forum was held under the theme: strengthening youth employment and encouraging youth entrepreneurship.
