From the 4th to the 17th of March 2023, Seychelles was represented at the Sitting of the Permanent Committees and Regional Caucuses of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa. In attendance was the head of the delegation Hon. Terence Mondon, Hon. Wavel Woodcock, Hon. Desheila Bastienne, and Hon. Conrad Gabriel. This sitting was the first Committee Sitting of the year and was held under the 2023 African Union Theme “The Year of AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.
Hon. Mondon acted in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Eastern Caucus and attended the meeting of Regional and Thematic Caucuses. This meeting focused on the expected outcomes for upcoming Committee Sittings, as well as presenting all priority areas for 2023. Hon. Bastienne attended the Capacity Building Workshop for the Committee on Gender, Youth, Family, and People with Disabilities, as well as the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs. Discussions were centered on the ratification of various legal frameworks and instruments for people with disabilities.
Hon. Gabriel acted in his capacity as a member of the Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, and participated in a discussion centered on environmental protection and the financing needed to combat climate change; this included discussions based on the previous COP27. Hon. Wavel Woodcock acted in his capacity as the Vice-President of the Pan-African Youth Caucus, and the Caucus met to discuss the report of the Youth Dialogue which held the theme “The promotion of good governance through the elimination of hunger and malnutrition: Enhancing the role of young parliamentarians and the youth in Africa’s Legislature”. The Caucus shared, exchanged and analyzed evidence-based knowledge and experiences in addressing good governance in food security in Africa.
The Pan- African Parliament also marked International Women’s Day, on the 8th of March, which followed the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This event brought Members of Parliament, Members of African Union bodies, various United Nations organizations, entrepreneurs, and activists together to discuss the importance of the roles of women and the need to continue improving access to digital technology.
The Sitting ended on Friday the 17th of March, with the President H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira commemorating the PAP Day with a series of events, held within the Parliament, to reflect the journey and historical key moments of the institution as it celebrates its 19th Anniversary.
