Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The presiding officers of Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World assembled in Rabat, Morocco from 6th to 7th June 2002:

• Noted with satisfaction the spread of the bicameral parliamentary system in Africa and the Arab World and the desire of numerous states to adopt this system in the near future;

• Aware of the importance of sharing in the common values of democracy and the rule of law;

• Keen to see these upper chambers of excellent statesmen play an active role in strengthening ties of cooperation between Arab and African States in the various fields of human and nation-state endeavours;

• Determined to create a strong inter-regional organ that will robustly and persistently ensure the unreserved commitment of the second chambers in enhancing the practice of democracy;

• Looking forward to strengthening the position of African and Arab states in the course of the accelerating changes, which the world is witnessing in different spheres and complying with the logic of unity and conglomeration imposed by the rise of the tempo of globalization;

• Seriously desirous to play a more effective role in the international efforts aimed at the elimination of all causes of tension and violence, and to contribute to the establishment of security and peace in Africa, the Middle East and the rest of the World;

• Aspiring to the strengthening of the efforts to fight against poverty, famine and underdevelopment in all its forms and the reinforcement of the role of women in the achievements of global and durable development for all people;

Agreed on this day 7th June 2002 to pursue the establishment of a body to be known as the Association of Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA).

Establishment of the Association
The presiding officers and leaders of the Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World assembled in Sana'a in the Republic of Yemen from 25th to 27th of April and unanimously adopted the Resolution that established the Association of Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World, as well as the pertaining Statute and Rules of Procedures.

Objectives
The Association accordingly outlined for itself the following aims and objectives:

I) To encourage, support and strengthen parliamentary bicameral systems in and outside the African and Arab regions.

II) To encourage, support and strengthen cooperation in economic, political, social and cultural spheres between the African and Arab regions and in the world at large.

III) To regularly organize meetings and dialogues among Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in the member states and to undertake joint actions to advance cooperation and exchange expertise.

IV) To coordinate the efforts of Senates and Equivalent Councils in regional and international conferences and organizations.

V) To contribute in the parliamentary activities of Arabs, African and international Unions and effectively participate in the dialogues originating from them.

VI) To deliberate upon issues of common interest within national and international spheres and to make appropriate recommendation and adopt practical resolutions concerning them.

VII ) To resolutely engage in efforts to deepen awareness of democratic values and concepts.

VIII) To engage in the encouragement and protection of the role of civil society organizations and human rights.

IX) Above all, the Association seeks to constitute a formidable bridge of cooperation for Africa and the Arab World to enable the region to harness its potentials to benefit from the world-wide conscious trend towards conglomeration and regionalization.