CSE for Youth in ESAPhillipa TuckerICASA 2013

What we doTake incomprehensible data, challenges and recommendations in

datasets and put it into an easy-to-read, simple-to understand format.

Malawi AEritrea BBotswana CNigeria DSouth Africa EMozambique No data reported

Our projects

• Each citizen, however ‘powerless’, is part of contract and has some power to hold govt accountable.

• Bill of Rights is part of the contract.

• The contract is based not only on formal rules but also on the content of a political programme/manifesto.

• Remember always that public servants serve the public.

Accountability & democratic governance

Accountability mechanismsLoss of political support from public and other govts• Elections, riots, activism, critical public opinion • Peer review by other nations

Legislative and Parliament obstructions • Legislative barriers and investigations• Judicial especially constitutional orders

Political campaigning by activists, donors, media• Media criticism, exposure• Civil activism, protests, advocacy • Donors withhold money

How we do itAAI believes that strong and accountable leadership is necessary to ensure effective responses to HIV and related health challenges.

We do this by •increasing transparency, •promoting dialogue and •supporting action to improve the response.

Needs-driven, evidence-based research and advocacy that measures performance against the commitments that have been made by governments.

How committed?

Simple Signature (most common)

Ratification Law

National Policy

Programming

Implementation

Evaluation and impact measurement

AdjustmentDefinitive signature (simple+rat (rare))

Signing with reservation

Ascession (no tacit disagreement (rare))

 Simple signatureThe simple signature has historically been used to ensure that government staff did not overstep their powers of authority and often offers good media and political exposure with none of the real implications of having to implement the law once back home. _ Parliament -Show of good faith to refrain from defeating the objective of the commitment but does not oblige them to actively pursue the objective of the commitment. RatificationThis is the process whereby the national government gets the approval of the national parliamentarians for a commitment it has signed, effectually making it national law, and thus a more effective and implemented commitment. The state is not bound by the content until such time as it is ratified at home.   

Types of commitments

Definitive signatureThis form of signing a commitment is becoming increasingly popular but still very few commitments offer this possibility. A definitive signature has the power of both a simple signature and ratification all at the same time, and thus does not require the commitment to be tabled at the national parliament. Few commitments offer this type of signing yet, however there is a move towards this globally.

AccessionVery few commitments allow for acceding. Acceding is based on the understanding that if a state does not express tacit disagreement within a certain period of time after a commitment comes into effect, it is automatically understood to have simply signed the commitment.

Signing with reservationThis is when a country simple signs a commitment but specifies which precise sections it will not include in its own commitment. Controversial issues such as territory boundaries, financial and time commitments, as well as moral and religious issues are usually the subject of most reservations. 

How committed?

Simple Signature (most common)

Ratification Law

National Policy

Programming

Implementation

Evaluation and impact measurement

AdjustmentDefinitive signature (simple+rat (rare))

Signing with reservation

Ascession (no tacit disagreement (rare))

• Many commitments are not sufficiently future forward.

• Many commitments do not include a quantitative element.

• Commitments do not have time-bound deadlines.

• Commitments do not mention quality.

• Commitments have no teeth without the money to back them up.

• Commitments can allow leaders (politicians as well as funding partners and

civil society) to look good yet do nothing.

• Commitments can be a vacuum for limited resources.

• Having commitments with no teeth undermines all other commitments.

• Ideal conditions under which governments sign commitments are vital.

The problem with commitments

• Commitments can be misinterpreted, especially at implementation level.

• We need to be sure that what we are asking for really is the best thing to do!

• Government needs to be included into the drawing up of the recommendations early in the process.

• The implementation and impact of commitments must be trackable or progress cannot be ascertained.

• Using existing data indicators is vital.

• Ensuring that the commitment covers budget allocation and expenditure and tracking is also important.

• The roles of implementing partners in the commitment should be clearly spelled out to reflect that government must do their job.

• We need to treat our elected bureaucrats as they civil servants they are.

The problem with commitments 2

Go

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1. 1979 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), UN General Assembly

2. 1986 The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul Charter)

3. 1990 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC or Children's Charter)

4. 1993 The World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna)

5. 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo)

6. 1995 Beijing Declaration, Fifth World Conference on Women

7. 1997 SADC Declaration on Gender & Development

8. 2000 Millennium Development Goals

9. 2001 Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, TB and other related infectious diseases

10. 2001 UNGASS: Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. United Nations General Assembly Special Session

11. 2003 Maseru Declaration on HIV and AIDS/ Maputo Declaration on Gender Mainstreaming/ Maputo Declaration on HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria

12. 2003 The Protocol Relating to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (especially around violence)

13. 2004-2005 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Women Protocol)

14. 2004 Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA)

15. 2005 Continental Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, (Maputo Plan of Action related)

16. 2006 Maputo Plan of Action, Plan of Action on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 2007-2010 (renewed till 2015)

17. 2007 High Level Meeting on Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies in Africa (Barcelona)

18. 2007 Africa Health Strategy: 2007 - 2015

19. 2008 Southern African Development Community Gender and Development (SADC–GAD)

20. 2008/2009 C a m p a i g n o n Accelerated reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA/MPOA)

21. 2009 African Union Gender Policy

22. 2010 UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, (New York) General Assembly meeting

23. Various Regional Economic Communities (REC) commitments

24. Various national commitments

After commitment: Steps expected from govt

Moving forward• Get all countries to report annually• Improve quality of reporting• Improve quality of data• Advocate for lgbti inclusion in data collection and human rights

commitments• Use data for advocacy• Use data to identify best practice and share in the region• Engage stakeholders to respond to data, refrain from silo work,

duplication and support govt efforts• Monitor progress to increase accountability

• Can’t argue with the figures• Easy, accessible and powerful advocacy tool for CSOs• Improved govt response based on facts not guesses• Guides CSOs and donors response too• Own data means greater ownership• Data reporting processes create greater transparency• Improves process: CSOs and govt should work together to report,

not just on data but on challenges and recommendations• Increased political commitment demonstrated by transparency• Better identification of regional best practice so can be copied in

other countries

Using data for advocacy

Steps expected from govt

What can you do?• www.aidsaccountability.org• Subscribe to our newsletter (on our website)

@AAI_AIDSwatch

AIDS Accountability

The Hive

www.aidsaccountability.org

Phillipa Tucker

+27 (0)82 225 1598

phillipa[at]aidsaccountability.org

Our work has been made possible by funding partners:

Contact details