Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA)
Europe
The Association of West-European Parliamentarians for Action against Apartheid (AWEPAA) started in 1984 to mobilise politicians in European parliaments in the struggle against apartheid. The organisation grew fast; from a small group of members in 16 national parliaments and in the European Parliament in September 1985, to some 1000 members in the early 1990s. Parliamentarians worked for effective sanction policies, they monitored the implementation and they sought to hold governments accountable for their policies. It continues to operate as the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA).
AWEPA works in cooperation with African Parliaments to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, to keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe and to facilitate African-European Parliamentary dialogue.
AWEPA's overall objective is to support the realisation of human rights and development in Africa via strengthening democratic institutions.
With the help of parliamentarians and elected officials worldwide, AWEPA actively supports human resource development and institutional capacity building within parliaments made up of decentralised authorities.
AWEPA concentrates on:
- The key role of parliaments in facilitating democracy, human rights, peaceful conflict management, poverty reduction and sustainable development
- The attainment of gender equality at all levels of political decision-making
- The common interests of African-European parliamentarians
- Building parliamentary networks and experience sharing at national, regional and inter-regional levels.
It aims to achieve this objective by promoting:
- Parliamentary competency and authority
- Good governance based on separation of powers
- Increased participation of women in decision-making (increased participation)
- Participation of civil society in the political process
- Independent and qualified media.
The bulk of the archives are held by the organisation.
The UWC/RIM Mayibuye Archives holds a small collection with papers and publications covering the period 1985-1994.
http://www.robben-island.org.za
The archives of the European Union also contain materials related to AWEPAA. http://www.iue.it
Many European AAMs have materials concerning AWEPAA within their own archives.
