The African Union (AU) is an international intergovernmental organization. Goals, Member States


Name:

African Union, AU, AU

Flag/Coat of Arms:

Status:

continental political and socio-economic organization

Structural units:

Assembly of Heads of State and Government,
African Union Commission,
All African Parliament,
African Monetary Fund,
African Central Bank,
African Investment Bank, as well as specialized technical committees established by the Assembly, Union for Economics, Social Policy and Culture (a deliberative body composed of representatives of various non-governmental organizations and professional groups)

Activity:

economic integration,
promoting the development of integration processes

Official languages:

Participating countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Egypt, Zambia, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Kenya, Comoros, Congo ( Brazzaville), Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, Seychelles, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, CAR, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa

History:

The decision to establish the African Union was taken at an emergency summit meeting of the OAU in September 1999 in Sirte (Libya). It reflected the desire of African leaders for a higher level of unity than was the case within the OAU. The heads of state of the continent approved the Constitutive Act of the African Union at the OAU summit in July 2000 in Lome (Togo), at the same time the creation of the AU was officially announced. At the 37th session of the OAU Assembly in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia (July 2001), a package of documents defining the structure and legal framework of the new organization was approved. To date, the Act has been ratified by 51 African countries. It replaced the OAU Charter, which nevertheless remained in effect for another year during the transition period from the OAU to the AU. The first summit of the African Union took place on July 9-10, 2002 in Durban (South Africa). South African President Thabo Mbeki was elected Chairman of the AC. The NEPAD program (New Partnership for Africa's Development) was named the operational economic program of the newly created all-African organization - a new large-scale program of Africa's development strategy, which determines its place in the modern world, contains a specific set of measures in the field of economy states of the continent, and expresses hope for a global partnership in the process of its implementation. In 2003, all states of the continent were members of the AU, except for the Kingdom of Morocco, which ceased its participation in the work of the OAU after the admission of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic to its membership. The headquarters of AS is located in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

African international organizations

There are quite a few international African organizations of a regional format. This continent, like other regions of the planet, has not been spared by the wave of formation of regional and subregional structures focused on the creation of economic groupings of states, common markets, free trade zones, customs and financial unions, etc.

The Organization of African Unity, transformed and renamed in 1999 into the African Union, remains the key organization in Africa. In addition to a common economic platform, the African Union proclaimed active participation in the political life of the continent, especially in overcoming complex interstate and interethnic conflicts. In its new capacity, the organization is presented not only as a forum of solidarity in the fight against manifestations of colonialism, but also as a prototype of a continental political union and the future single African market.

The African Union is the heir and successor of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which for several decades was the main one on the continent. On May 25, 1963, the Adcis Ababa Conference of African Heads of State and Government adopted the Charter of the OAU.

All states of the continent and adjacent islands were represented in the OAU (including Madagascar and Mauritania, except for the temporarily excluded Morocco.

The seven statutory principles of the OAU determined its direction: equality; non-interference in the internal affairs of other states; respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inalienable right to independence; peaceful settlement of all contradictions through negotiations, mediation, conciliation and decision of arbitration courts; strong condemnation of political subversion; the struggle for the complete liberation of dependent African territories; adherence to the policy of non-alignment.

The main structural institutions of the Organization of African Unity were the Assembly of Heads of State and Government - the supreme body that developed and implemented the political course, which met once a year; Council of Foreign Ministers; Pan African Parliament; Economic and Social Commission; General Secretariat; Arbitration, Regulatory and Mediation Commission; Committee for the Coordination of Assistance to National Liberation Movements in Africa and a number of special committees: on economic and social issues; science, culture, education and health care; on defense.

In 1983, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU created a "mechanism for the prevention, regulation and resolution of conflicts" by sending civilian and military observer missions.



As a follow-up to OAU initiatives, the African Union has taken a number of economic and political measures, enshrined in the Declaration of the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation (2000), the Constitutional Act of the African Union (approved at the Lome Summit in 2000 and entered into force in 2001 d.), the New Partnership for African Development, a document adopted as a program at the Lusaka Summit in 2001

AU bodies:

Assembly of Heads of State and Government; its first session took place in 2002 in Durban, where the institutional structure of the organization was determined. It reflects the achievements of the OAU and the desire to create a more efficient, integrated model.

Executive Council(it includes special ministers appointed by each government).

AU Commission consists of a chairman, his deputy and eight commissioners responsible for various areas of cooperation (maintenance of peace and security, political issues, infrastructure and energy, social issues, human resources, science and technology, trade, agriculture; economy ).

Committee of Permanent Representatives.

Pan African Parliament.

Economic and Social Council(an advisory body made up of experts and various professional groups).

53 countries are members of the African Union (2004 G.): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burundi, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Kenya, Comoros, Congo , Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saharan Arab Democratic Republic, Swaziland, Seychelles, Senegal , Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa.

The working languages ​​are Arabic, English and French.

The seat of the secretariat is Addis Ababa.

Year of foundation-2002

Number of members-53

Headquarters- Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)

Working languages- English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swahili.

The African Union is the legal successor of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), established in Addis Ababa in 1963. Two of the most important tasks of the OAU were to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation of African countries and to overcome the negative consequences of colonialism. One of the most important norms developed in the relations between African countries in the early period of the existence of the OAU was the principle of the inviolability of borders, which does not allow for a radical revision of the political map of Africa.

The initiator of the transformation of the OAU into a closer integration association of the AU was the leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi. This program began to be implemented after the meeting of African heads of state in the Libyan city of Sirte in 1999, and on July 9, 2002, the OAU was officially transformed into the AU.

The population of the African Union is approximately 900 million people, the territory is about 30 million km 2. The members of the union are 52 independent states of Africa and the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), self-proclaimed on the territory of Western Sahara. In 1984, in protest against the admission of SADR to the OAU, the Kingdom of Morocco withdrew from the organization, considering Western Sahara part of its territory. Morocco continues to eschew the African Union. The Chairman of the AU is elected for a year from the heads of African states. In January 2008, at the summit in Addis Ababa, the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, was elected chairman of the African Union.

In the names of both the organization itself and its bodies and divisions, analogies with the structure of the European Union are clearly discerned. The supreme body of the union is the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Representatives of governments that came to power in an unconstitutional way are not allowed to participate in the work of the AC. The supreme executive body is the AC Commission. Since 2004, the All-African Parliament has been operating (5 deputies from each country, regardless of their population), its sessions are held in Midrand, a suburb of Johannesburg (South Africa). An African Court is being planned. In the future, the AU will have a unified armed force.

An important difference between the AU and the OAU is that economic integration is proclaimed a priority of the organization. The AU bodies have developed the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) economic program, which determines the strategy for developing the economies of the states of the continent. The leaders of states are concerned about the extremely low level of economic ties between African countries: less than 5% of the total trade turnover of the continent falls on the share of inter-African trade. The foreign trade relations of African states with the developed countries of Europe and America are incomparably more intense than their trade exchanges with each other. In the AU countries, the introduction of a single Afro currency is envisaged (scheduled for 2023).

The main tasks of the AU are to maintain a dialogue with the world community from the unified positions of all African countries, protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, promote the maintenance of peace, security and stability on the continent, and effectively resolve regional conflicts. The AU participates in peacekeeping operations in Sudanese Darfur, Somalia, and the Comoros.

The integration process is not going smoothly. The creation of the African Court and the introduction of a single currency are being delayed (initially, its partial introduction was planned for 2004). Very big doubts are expressed about the project of creating a free trade zone and free movement of the population, following the example of the Schengen zone in Europe. Within the AU, there are serious contradictions between the countries of North and Tropical Africa, between English-speaking and French-speaking countries, between regional leaders (South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, etc.), seeking not to lose their leading positions, and ordinary states.

Perspectives. In the future, the return of Morocco to the African Union is possible, subject to the settlement of the conflict in Western Sahara.

Midrand, South Africa

African Union(abbreviated AC) is an international intergovernmental organization uniting 53 states of Africa, the successor Organizations of African Unity(OAU). Founded July 9, 2002 . The most important decisions within the organization are made at the Assembly of the African Union - a meeting of the heads of state and government of the member states of the organization, which is held every six months. The secretariat of the African Union, the African Union Commission, is located in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In February 2009, a decision was made to transform the African Union Commission into the African Union Authority. African Union Authority).

History

The historical forerunners of the African Union are Union of African States(English) Union of African States), a confederation of African states created in the 1960s at the initiative of Ghana's President Kwame Nkrumah, as well as Organization of African Unity(English) Organization of African Unity), founded on May 25, 1963, and African Economic Community(English) African Economic Community), founded in 1981.

In view of the lack of effectiveness and harsh criticism of the transformation of the African Union into "club of dictators" in the mid-1990s, the idea of ​​creating an African Union was revived on the African continent. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was the main supporter of the reforms. On September 9, 1999, the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of African Unity adopted Sirte Declaration(named after the city of Sirte in Libya), which stated the intention to create an African Union. In 2000, during the summit in Lome, the Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted, and in 2001, at the summit in Lusaka, a plan for the implementation of the project of the new organization. At the same time, a large-scale program of the Africa Development Strategy was approved - “ New Partnership for Africa's Development", or NEPAD (eng. New Partnership for Africa's Development; NEPAD ).

The African Union began its activities on July 9, 2002, replacing the Organization of African Unity.

Goals and principles

goals organizations are:

  • strengthening the unity and solidarity of African states and peoples of Africa;
  • sovereignty defense, territorial integrity and independence of Member States;
  • accelerating the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;
  • promoting and defending common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples;
  • promoting international cooperation in accordance with the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights ;
  • strengthening peace, security and stability on the continent;
  • strengthening and protecting human rights in accordance with African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other human rights instruments;
  • creating the necessary conditions, thanks to which the continent will be able to take its rightful place in the global economy and in international negotiations;
  • promoting sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels, as well as the integration of African economies;
  • promotion of cooperation in all spheres of human activity in order to improve the standard of living of the people of Africa;
  • policy coordination and harmonization among existing and future regional economic communities with a view to progressively achieving the objectives of the African Union;
  • progress in the development of the continent through the promotion of scientific research in all areas, primarily in the field of science and technology;
  • cooperation with relevant international partners in efforts to eradicate diseases and promote healthy lifestyles on the continent.

According to the Constitutive Act of the African Union operating principles organizations are:

  • sovereign equality and interdependence among the member states of the African Union;
  • respect for state borders that existed at the time states gained independence;
  • the participation of African peoples in the activities of the African Union;
  • development of a common defense policy for the African continent;
  • peaceful resolution of conflicts between member states of the Union through appropriate measures approved by the Assembly of the African Union;
  • prohibition on the use of force and the threat of force between the Member States of the Union;
  • non-interference of member states in the internal affairs of other states;
  • the right of the Union to intervene in the affairs of a state-union by decision of the Assembly of the organization in the event of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity ;
  • peaceful coexistence Member States and their right to exist in peace and security;
  • the right of member states to request the organization to intervene in the affairs of the state in order to restore peace and security;
  • promoting self-sufficiency within the Union;
  • promotion of gender equality;
  • respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance;
  • promotion of social justice in order to ensure balanced economic development;
  • respect for the sanctity of human life, condemnation and rejection of impunity and political assassinations, acts of terrorism and subversion;
  • condemnation and rejection of unconstitutional change of governments.

Structure

The supreme body of the African Union is Assembly which consists of heads of state and government or their accredited representatives. Meetings of the Assembly in the form of a regular session must be held at least once a year. At the same time, at the request of any member state and with the approval of 2/3 of the member states, the Assembly may convene in an emergency session. The Assembly is headed by a Chairman, who is elected for a one-year term by the Member States from among the Heads of State or Government. The Assembly has fairly broad powers. She:

  • defines the general policy of the African Union;
  • adopts, considers and decides on various reports and recommendations prepared by other bodies of the Union;
  • considers the issue of membership in the organization;
  • establishes new bodies of the Union;
  • exercises control over the implementation of the policies and decisions of the Union, and also monitors their observance by the Member States;
  • adopts the budget of the Union;
  • gives direction to the Executive Council on the management of conflicts, wars and other emergencies and the restoration of peace;
  • appoints and removes judges of the Supreme Court of the African Union;
  • appoints the chairman of the Commission and his deputies, the Commissioner of the Commission, and also determines their tasks and terms of office.

Decisions in the Assembly are taken by consensus

In order to strengthen further integration processes, primarily economic ones, in 2004 a Pan African Parliament, which should eventually become the supreme legislative body of the African Union. It is located in the city of Midrand in South Africa and consists of 265 representatives from 53 member states of the organization.

Executive Council The (EB) African Union is made up of ministers of foreign affairs or other ministers/civil servants appointed by the governments of the member states. EC meetings in the form of a regular session are held at least twice a year. At the same time, at the request of any member state and upon the approval of 2/3 of the member states, the EC may meet in an emergency session. The EC is engaged in coordination and decision-making on issues affecting the common interests of the Member States, monitors the implementation of the political strategy formulated by the Assembly, and is responsible to it. The scope of activity and responsibility of the IP includes:

  • energy, industry and natural resources;
  • food, agricultural and animal resources, livestock and forestry;
  • water resources and irrigation;
  • environmental protection, humanitarian activities and emergency response;
  • transport and communications;
  • insurance;
  • education, culture, health and workforce development;
  • science and technology;
  • citizenship, residence and immigration issues;
  • social security, including the formulation of policies for the protection of motherhood and children, as well as the disabled and persons with disabilities;
  • establishment of a system of African awards, medals and prizes.

Decisions in the EC, as in the Assembly, are made by consensus or, otherwise, by 2/3 votes of the member states of the organization. However, procedural matters are decided by a simple majority vote.

In addition, there are specialized technical committees that are responsible to the Executive Committee:

  • Committee for Agriculture and Agricultural Affairs;
  • Committee of Monetary and Financial Affairs;
  • Trade, Customs and Immigration Committee;
  • Committee for Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment;
  • Committee for Transport, Communications and Tourism;
  • Health, Labor and Social Affairs Committee;
  • Committee for Education, Culture and Human Resources.

Other bodies operate within the African Union:

  • Supreme Court;
  • African Union Commission (administrative and executive body of the organization, which acts as the secretariat of the African Union);
  • Committee of Permanent Representatives;
  • Economic, Social and Cultural Council;
  • Peace and Security Council.

In addition, it is planned to create three financial institutions: African Central Bank(planned to be created by

African Union (AU)

The historical predecessor of the AU is the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Charter of the OAU was developed in the conditions of a divided Africa by groups of states (French-speaking countries, countries of East and Central Africa, etc.) and was approved on May 25, 1963 as a result of the development of a single compromise text from two so-called Casablanc and Lagos projects. The OAU was created to strengthen the unity and solidarity of African states, protect their sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and encourage international cooperation.

An important event in the evolution of the OAU was the fourth extraordinary summit meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, held on September 9, 1999 in the Libyan city of Sirte, at which the Sirte Declaration was adopted. The main content of this Declaration was the proposal to create an Inter-African Union. In April 2000, lawyers and parliamentarians held a working meeting in Ethiopia, and at the end of May of the same year - in the Libyan capital (Tripoli). As a result of these meetings, a report was prepared, which was then made public at the first meeting of OAU ministers to consider questions related to the implementation of the Sirte Declaration.

In July 2000, in the capital of Togo (Lome), the Constituent Act on the establishment of the AU was adopted. The founding act of the AU provided for the implementation of measures for the transition period - for another year the Charter of the OAU was in effect "in order to ensure that the OAU / AU takes the necessary measures related to the transfer of cases to the African Union and resolves all issues arising in connection with this process "(Section 1, Article 33). The creation of the AU and its replacement with the OAU gave a new impetus to the process of strengthening, first of all, the economic basis of integration, which began with the signing of the Treaty on the Establishment of the African Economic Community (AEC), the so-called Treaty of Abuja (Abuja is the capital of Nigeria). Thus, the AU began to play a more prominent role both politically and economically, just like the European Union.

The supreme body of the AU is Assembly, which consists of heads of state and government or their accredited representatives. Meetings of the Assembly in the form of a regular session shall be held at least twice a year. At the same time, at the request of any member state and with the approval of 2/3 of the member states, the Assembly may convene in an emergency session. The Assembly is headed by a Chairman, who is elected for a one-year term by the Member States from among the Heads of State or Government. The Assembly has fairly broad powers:

  • – it determines the general policy of the AU; considers and decides on various reports and recommendations prepared by other bodies of the CA;
  • - considers the issue of membership in the organization; establishes new bodies of the AU;
  • – oversees the implementation of AC policies and decisions, as well as monitors their observance by member states;
  • - adopts the AC budget;
  • - gives guidance to the Executive Council on the settlement of conflicts and other emergencies and the restoration of peace;
  • – appoints and dismisses the judges of the Court of the AC;
  • - appoints the chairman of the commission and his deputies, the commissioner of the commission, and also determines their tasks and terms of office.

Decisions in the Assembly are made by consensus or, otherwise, by 2/3 of the votes of the member states of the AU. Procedural matters are decided by a simple majority of votes.

In order to strengthen further integration processes, in 2004 a Pan African Parliament, which is intended to become the supreme legislative body of the African Union. It is located in Midrand in South Africa and consists of 265 representatives from 54 AU member states.

Executive Council The AU is made up of foreign ministers or other government ministers appointed by the governments of the member states. Meetings of the Executive Board in the form of a regular session are held at least twice a year. At the same time, at the request of any member state and upon the approval of 2/3 of the member states, the EC may meet in extraordinary sessions. The Executive Council is responsible for coordinating and taking decisions on issues affecting the common interests of the Member States, monitors the implementation of the political strategy formulated by the Assembly, and is responsible to it.

The scope of activities and responsibilities of the Executive Council includes: foreign trade; energy, industry and natural resources; food, agricultural products, livestock and forestry; water resources and irrigation; environmental protection, humanitarian activities and emergency response; transport and communications; insurance; education, culture, health and workforce development; science and technology; citizenship, residence and immigration issues; social security, including the formulation of policies for the protection of motherhood and children, as well as the disabled and persons with disabilities; establishment of a system of African awards, medals and prizes.

Decisions of the Executive Council, like those of the Assembly, are taken by consensus or, otherwise, by 2/3 of the votes of the AU member states. Procedural matters are decided by a simple majority of votes.

In addition, there are specialized technical committees, who are responsible to the Executive Committee: Committee for Agriculture and Agricultural Affairs; Committee of Monetary and Financial Affairs; Trade, Customs and Immigration Committee; Committee for Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment; Committee for Transport, Communications and Tourism; Health, Labor and Social Affairs Committee; Committee for Education, Culture and Human Resources.

Other bodies operate within the AU:

  • – African Court;
  • – AC Commission;
  • – Committee of Permanent Representatives;
  • – Economic, social and cultural council;
  • - Peace and Security Council.

It is planned to create an African Central Bank, an African Monetary Fund, an African Investment Bank.

The AS also operates african human rights system, which is based on the following international legal acts:

  • - African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights 1981 and its protocols - Protocol on the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights 1998 and the Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa 2003;
  • – OAU Convention for the Management of Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, 1969;
  • – African Cultural Charter 1976;
  • – Charter for African Cultural Revival 2006 (suggested to replace the 1976 Charter);
  • – African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990;
  • – African Youth Charter 2006;
  • – Kampala Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, 2009, etc.

The African human rights system includes and organizational human rights structures:

  • – African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights;
  • - African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights;
  • – African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Within the framework of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, there are special procedures for the protection of human rights.

The AU Secretariat and the AU Commission are located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – an international organization that unites 57 states of the world (including six members of the CIS: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) on a religious basis and is the second largest after the UN in terms of membership. The Russian Federation has been an observer in this organization since June 30, 2005. This is, in essence, an interregional association. Until June 28, 2011, the OIC was referred to as the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), but by the decision of the participants of the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, held in Astana on June 28–30, 2011, it was renamed the OIC.

The organization was founded in 1969 at the Conference of Muslim Heads of State in Rabat to ensure Islamic solidarity in the social, economic and political spheres, fight against colonialism, neo-colonialism and racism and support the Palestine Liberation Organization. The OIC is the largest and most influential official governmental Islamic international organization. Purposes of creating OIS : cooperation between Muslim states, joint participation in activities in the international arena, achieving stable development of the participating countries.

Governing bodies of the OIC.

  • - meeting of kings, heads of state and government (summit);
  • - Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs;
  • - general secretariat;
  • - Auxiliary bodies.

Meeting of kings, heads of state and government (summit) determines the general policy of Muslim states. Such meetings are held every three years.

Foreign Ministers Conference held annually. If necessary, extraordinary conferences are convened.

General Secretariat is the executive body of the OIC. The head of the secretariat is General Secretary, who is elected by the Foreign Ministers' Conference for a four-year term. The powers of the Secretary General may be renewed only once. The Secretary General has four deputies: for political affairs, for science and technology, for economic affairs, for social, cultural and information issues. In addition to the deputies, there is a cabinet director who organizes the purely technical work of the secretariat.

The General Secretariat has a number of departments: socio-economic, but science and technology, Asian Affairs, African Affairs, International Affairs, Information, Human Rights and Religious Minority Affairs, Muslim Non-Governmental Organizations, etc.

With OIS there are a number of autonomous organizations, created by the decisions of its conferences and whose activities are coordinated by the General Secretariat: Islamic Development Bank; Islamic News Agency; Organization of broadcasting and television service of Islamic states; Islamic Commission for Economic and Cultural Affairs; Islamic Center for Vocational Training and Research; Islamic Fund for Scientific and Technological Development; Center for the Study of Islamic Art and Culture; Jerusalem Foundation, Jerusalem Committee; Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Organization of Islamic Capitals;

Center for Statistical, Economic and Social Research; Committee of Islamic Solidarity with Muslim African Countries of the Sahel; Islamic Association of Shipowners; Islamic Trade Development Center; Islamic Development Fund; Islamic Court of Justice; Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture.

Within the framework of the OIC, work is underway to create regional system of human rights protection.

Thus, in June 2005, the OIC adopted the Convention on the Rights of Children in Islam, and in June 2011, at the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, held in Astana, Resolution 2/38-LEG was adopted on the establishment of a Permanent independent commission on human rights of the OIC, annexed to which was the Statute of the Permanent Independent Commission on Human Rights of the OIC. The commission will include 18 experts. The commission's mandate does not include consideration of individual complaints, it will conduct research on priority issues of human rights protection and coordinate efforts to exchange human rights information between OIC member states.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization uniting 10 countries of Southeast Asia: Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines. ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 on the basis of Bangkok Declaration. Initially, it included Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Goals ASEAN said Declaration declared: strengthening peace and regional stability; acceleration of economic development, social and cultural progress of the countries of the region.

The contractual formalization of ASEAN took place in 1976, when three documents were signed:

  • – Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia;
  • – Declaration of consent;
  • – Agreement on the Establishment of a Permanent ASEAN Secretariat.

Since then, ASEAN has acquired the organizational structures for carrying out its activities, the principles of its activities and the program of action.

In 1984, Brunei became the sixth member of ASEAN. Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, Laos and Myanmar joined in 1997, and Cambodia joined in 1999. The association has evolved from an originally sub-regional organization into a regional association of all the states of Southeast Asia (except East Timor).

In 2003, the second declaration of consent, which was based on the concept of "ASEAN Vision 2020". In this document, ASEAN announced its plans to create an ASEAN Community by 2020, which will have three pillars: the Security Community, the Economic Community and the Community for Social and Cultural Affairs (with the adoption of the Cebu Declaration in 2007, this deadline was postponed to 2015. ).

The aim of this task is Vientiane Program of Action, adopted at the 10th ASEAN Summit in 2004. As a priority for the Association for the future, the Program defines the achievement of closer integration and a parallel reduction in the gap in the levels of development of its members.

A turning point in the history of ASEAN occurred in 2008, when its Charter came into force. With the adoption of the Charter, ASEAN became a full-fledged subject of international law (Article 3). The structure of the governing bodies of the Association is being noticeably strengthened. In accordance with Art. 7 bylaws ASEAN summit, held at the level of heads of state and government of member states, is the highest political body of ASEAN. The Summits consider and develop major policy directions and decide on key issues affecting ASEAN goals that are of interest to Member States, as well as issues referred to the Summit by the ASEAN Coordinating Council, ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN ministerial bodies.

ASEAN Coordinating Council according to Art. 8 of the Charter is composed of ASEAN foreign ministers and meets at least twice a year. The functions of the ASEAN Coordinating Council include: preparation of the ASEAN Summits; coordinating the implementation of agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit: coordinating the position with the councils of the ASEAN Community in order to strengthen political ties, efficiency and interaction between them; submission of reports of the ASEAN Community Councils for consideration

ASEAN summit; consideration of the annual reports of the Secretary-General on the work of ASEAN; approving the appointment and removal of Deputy Secretaries-General on the recommendation of the Secretary-General; implementation of other activities provided for by the Charter or prescribed by the instructions of the ASEAN Summit. In key areas of integration (politics and security, economics, social and cultural cooperation), three councils have been created at the level of heads of relevant ministries and departments, which should report to the heads of ASEAN countries on the progress of building the ASEAN Community in their areas. In order to achieve the goals of each of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, each council of the ASEAN Community must ensure the implementation of the decisions of the ASEAN Summit and coordinate work in various areas that are within their sphere of competence, as well as affecting the powers of other Councils of the Community (Art. 9).

Significantly increased role Secretary General ASEAN, which enjoys ministerial status. His candidacy is approved by the decision of the ASEAN Summit on the proposal of the Coordinating Council for one term of five years without the right to re-election. According to Art. 11 of the ASEAN Charter, he is endowed not only with the functions of the chief official, but also with the authority to represent ASEAN in the international arena.

Under the leadership of the Secretary General, the Secretariat operates, the apparatus of which is strengthened by qualified specialists. They should work exclusively in the interests of ASEAN. In and. 8 art. 11 of the ASEAN Charter specifically states that the Secretary General and Secretariat staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or other external entity outside ASEAN.

Member States undertake to respect the exclusive nature of the responsibility of the Secretary-General and members of the staff of the Secretariat and not to seek to influence them in the performance of their duties.

In accordance with Art. 13 of the ASEAN Charter, each ASEAN member state has established ASEAN National Secretariat, which shall serve as the central institution of ASEAN in the member state. And also it should send a Permanent Representative in the rank of Ambassador to represent the ASEAN in Jakarta (Indonesia), from among which the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (Art. 12).

In case of disagreement over the implementation of certain contracts and agreements, the parties may apply to an independent body that is authorized to make decisions. The parties to the dispute may also request the ASEAN Chairman or the ASEAN Secretary General to provide good offices, assistance in conciliation or mediation (art. 23). According to Art. 26 of the ASEAN Charter, if after applying the above procedures, the dispute remains unresolved, then it is subject to referral to the ASEAN Summit.

In Art. Article 21 of the ASEAN Charter establishes a new procedure for making and executing decisions on economic issues (the principle of consensus). But if consensus proves impossible, then the flexible participation formula, including the "ASEAN Minus X" formula, will apply if this is agreed.

Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter provides for the establishment of a human rights body which "shall act in accordance with terms of reference to be determined by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference".

The Statute of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights was adopted on July 20, 2009, and in October 2009, members of the commission were appointed at the 15th ASEAN Summit. The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights is the first international regional body responsible for the protection, promotion and implementation of human rights in Asia.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a sub-regional intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 by the leaders of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The total territory of the countries belonging to the SCO is 61% of the territory of Eurasia. Its cumulative demographic composition is a quarter of the world's population. The SCO observer states are India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan. In March 2008, Iran filed an official statement of its intention to become a full member of the SCO.

The highest decision-making body in the SCO is the Council of Heads of Member States (CHS). It meets once a year and takes decisions and instructions on all important issues of the organization.

The Council of Heads of Government of the SCO Member States (CGP) meets once a year to discuss the strategy of multilateral cooperation and priority areas within the organization, address fundamental and topical issues of economic and other cooperation, and also approves the annual budget of the organization.

In addition to the meetings of the CHS and the CHP, there is also a mechanism for meetings at the level of heads of parliaments, secretaries of security councils, ministers of foreign affairs, defense, emergency situations, economy, transport, culture, education, healthcare, heads of law enforcement agencies, supreme and arbitration courts, prosecutors general. The Council of National Coordinators of the SCO Member States (CNC) serves as the coordination mechanism within the SCO. The organization has two permanent bodies - the Secretariat in Beijing under the leadership of the Secretary General and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure in Tashkent, headed by the Director.

The General Secretary and the Director of the Executive Committee are appointed by the CHS for a term of three years.

The activities of the SCO initially lay in the sphere of mutual intra-regional actions to suppress terrorist acts, as well as separatism and extremism in Central Asia. On June 7, 2001 in St. Petersburg, at the meeting of the heads of the SCO member states, Agreement on the Regional Antiterrorist Structure. The SCO is not and does not intend to become a military bloc, but the growing danger of "terrorism, extremism and separatism" makes it necessary to involve the armed forces. The main goals of the SCO are: strengthening mutual trust and good neighborliness between the member countries; promotion of their effective cooperation in the political, trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural fields; joint provision and maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region; moving towards the creation of a democratic, just and rational new international political and economic order.

  • Cm.: Abashidze A. Kh., Solntsev A. M. Anniversary of the African system of human and peoples' rights // Eurasian Law Journal. 2012. No. 2 (45). pp. 22-25.


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