Alliance for a responsible, plural and united world

World citizens assembly
Lille – December 2-10, 2001

Regional Group

HORN OF AFRICA AND EASTERN AFRICA

1.	Peace and security
The horn of Africa being one of the most destabilised regions in the world, peace and security is our main concern. The reasons for instability and insecurity in the region are :
Fighting for resources and power
Ethnic conflicts
Violation of Human rights and
Dictatorial governance.

Peace could be attained by rehabilitating the role of democratic State in social, political and economic matters and by creating vibrant civil society actors to realize responsive governance.
To establish a strong civil society, we need intensive and sustained civic education and training of activists and promote the right and actual access to information.
To this effect, it is essential to extend support to civil society and forums in Somalia in particular and to install dialogues between different composants of civil society in the region.
Organize civil society parliaments parallel to government structures and regional bodies such as IGAD AND East African Parliament.

2.	Governance and human rights
Replace the idea of good governance with responsive government.
Foster civil society education and training to understand their citizenship and rights in order to have responsive governance.
As heavy debts have devastating effects on the society, Alliance and International citizens should advocate for cancellation of debts.
No payment of debt as long as basic needs like health, education and food are at stake.
Create a system that would not regenerate the debt burden.

3.	Sustainable development
Strive to satisfy the basic human needs before everything as first priority.
Enhance utilization of local resources and appropriate technology.
Prioritise solution oriented education, sound policies and an enabling environment to realize sustainable development.

4.	Globalization
It is important for the Alliance to formulate and work towards an equitable world economic order.
We need to play an active role that the New World trade order should be levelled.
Promote fair not free trade.
Globalization should be tamed to respond to local needs.
Reform of International Institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO)
Bring to a halt development concept being used as tool of recolonization of Africa.
Modern technological infrastructure should be adapted and put in place.
People should rule the market and not the vice versa.
Equal opportunity for all and more support for the weak.

5.	Environment
The environment is being destroyed by a number of factors like population explosion, abject poverty, deforestation, soil  degradation, armed conflict and instability.
Dumping of wastes and illegal  methods of fishing by transnational companies.
These problems can be tackled by empowering communities to preserve and rehabilitate natural resources management and explore other energy alternatives and to achieve these work for peace and stability in the region.
Recycling of materials should be supported by the Alliance by exchange of technology.
Marine life or farm should no be a dumping space for western wastes.

Cross-cutting issues as priorities to overcome the above problems :
Education for peace and human rights
Culture
HIV/AIDS
Gender balance
Civil society
Media