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The Canadian Parliamentary Delegation to the Meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, from April 15 to 17, 2015, has the honour to present its report. Composed of Robert Aubin, Member and Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, the delegation was accompanied by François Michaud, Executive Secretary of the Canadian Branch. The following branches were represented: Belgium / Federation Wallonia-Brussels, Cambodia, Cameroon, France, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Ontario, Quebec, Senegal, Seychelles and Switzerland. The opening ceremony began with an address by Robert Aubin, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the APF, followed by Georges Nakseu Nguefang, Deputy Director, Peace and Security, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Pascal Terrasse, Member (France) and Parliamentary General Secretary of the APF, and Jean Max Rakotomamonjy, President of the National Assembly of Madagascar. The members of the Committee present, the Committee unanimously adopted the agenda and the minutes of the last Committee meeting in Ottawa in July 2014. Mr. Aubin then presented the Chair’s report on the Committee’s activities. Parliamentary approaches to holding governments accountable Aman Pierre Yapo, Member (Côte d’Ivoire), on behalf of N’Guessan Kouame, Member (Côte d’Ivoire), presented the report on the various ways parliamentarians in La Francophonie can hold governments accountable, distinguishing between putting questions to the government and introducing motions of non-confidence. The report then discusses the effectiveness of these approaches. Parliament and the media Fahti Derder, National Councillor (Switzerland), presented his report on parliaments, the press, the media and democratization, addressing the role of TV5 as well as the internal communications of parliaments. Youth involvement in the political process Jean Rousselle, Member (Quebec), presented this report, which attempts to show the importance for parliamentarians of coming up with new ways to get young people interested in politics to ensure the democratic development of French-speaking countries. National human rights institutions Monsieur Aman Pierre Yapo, Member (Côte d’Ivoire), on behalf of N’Guessan Kouame, Member (Côte d’Ivoire), presented this report whose objective is twofold: (1) create a dashboard on national institutions for promoting and protecting human rights in French-speaking countries, and (2) measure their effectiveness against criteria set by international organizations. Children without identities Claudine Lepage, Senator (France), presented a document on this issue with a view to presenting a report at the next meeting of the Committee. Election observation missions Nadia El Yousfi, Member (Belgium / Federation Wallonia-Brussels), presented a report on election observation missions and how they operate within the OIF. The report also addresses election commissions and institutions responsible for organizing elections. Parliamentary seminars and training courses Pierre Ngayap, Senator (Cameroon), presented the follow-up report. He gave a brief background on parliamentary seminars and spoke about the 2014 seminars. The report highlights the importance of interparliamentary cooperation as a specific approach to contribute to strengthening the rule of law and the proper functioning of democratic institutions through the improvement of parliamentary business. Initiative multilatérale de coopération interparlementaire francophone (IMCIF) Robert Aubin, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Committee, discussed this initiative, which was presented for the first time to the General Committee in Paris in February 2013. It was agreed that the participating branches be asked to report on this program so that a final and comprehensive report can be prepared. Noria program Robert Aubin, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Committee, presented the program and gave a brief background. The francophone youth parliament (PFJ) and national youth parliaments (PNJs) Assory Aicha Belco Maiga, Member (Mali), reported on the PFJ and PNJs. Other business The Committee gave approval-in-principle to a draft joint resolution with the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee of the APF on the fight against cybercrime. It also authorized the APF Parliamentary Secretary General to sign an agreement with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), which will be presented for ratification at the General Assembly in Bern. Related activity Robert Aubin, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Committee, took part in a press conference with Jean Max Rakotomamonjy, President of the National Assembly of Madagascar. For more information on this meeting, please see: http://www.apf.francophonie.org/Reunion-de-la-commission-des-2468.html [in French only]. Thanks to its participation in this meeting, the Canadian Branch achieved its objectives to meet its international commitments, present reports that support the exchange of information, strengthen international ties and defend its interests.
Respectfully submitted,
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