The first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and its related meetings will take place from 24 October to 11 November 2022 at the Parliament’s Headquarters in Midrand, South Africa. The Session will be guided by the African Union theme of 2022; ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development.’
The first part of the upcoming statutory meeting will be dedicated to consultations by Members of Parliament on proposals for amendments to the Rules of Procedure. The process is in line with the commitment of the new leadership of the PAP and previous decisions by AU policy organs, calling for the examination and alignment of rules of procedureto create a conducive environment for the operation of the Organ.
The official opening of the first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament is slated for 31 October 2022. H.E Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the PAP, is expected to present the performance review report of the PAP activities within the framework of the Bureau’s vision to “revive, renew, reposition, and reinvigorate” the continental Parliament since its election in June 2022.
Other highlights of the Session will include a High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Africa under the theme: “Unconstitutional changes in government and political transitions in Africa”. The 13th Conference on Women’s Rights is also expected to take place on the margins of the Ordinary Session, focusing on “Women empowerment and inclusion in governance.”
Additionally, the Permanent Committees of the PAP will present various reports for debate and adoption by the plenary, following successful deliberations during the August Sittings of the Permanent Committees. These include a report on the PAP Workshop on the AU theme for 2022; a report on the status of peace and security in Africa; a debate on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA); as well as recommendations and resolutions on Labour Migration in Africa.
The Plenary will further consider Model Laws in several areas pertaining to the work of the Permanent Committees. Among others, African Parliamentarians will discuss Model Laws on Soil Management in Africa; policing; cooperatives; gender parity; statelessness; and factoring.
The Plenary of the PAP is the main decision-making body responsible for passing resolutions. It consists of the Member State representatives and is chaired by the President of the Parliament.
Several Parliamentarians from different countries will be sworn in as members of the PAP following elections in a number of African states.
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