Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694864897627.pdf (Gambia)
STATEMENT DELIVERED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA AT THE DELOCALISED MEETING OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS, PEACE AND SECURITY AND THE APRM/ LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS/ SOCIAL AFFAIRS, GENDER AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT 16TH JULY 2022 AT THE SDKJ CONFERENCE CENTER BANJUL, THE GAMBIA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --  Our Host, the Hon.
Speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia  Hon.

Speaker of the ECOWS Parliament  Colleagues from the National Assembly of The Gambia & the ECOWAS Parliament  Hon.

Ministers here present  Senior Government officials here present  Distinguished Invited Guests  Members of the Press  Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning to you all!

Let me first welcome my colleagues from the ECOWAS Parliament to our beautiful country, The Gambia.

Africa’s smiling cost.


I hope on the side-lines of this meeting you will take time to explore the beauties this great country of ours has to offer.

Hon.
Hon.

Speaker, Distinguished Invited Guest I am delighted that the ECOWAS Parliament has chosen the Gambia for this meeting of the Joint Committee on Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the APRM/ Legal Affairs and Human Rights/ Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment to critically examine the challenges that confront the implementation of community texts on conflict prevention.
It is a well-known fact that The Gambia is a country that has earned the reputation of peace and security with the ECOWAS community.

It is therefore a good choice that this delocalised meeting to assess the mechanisms that can engender peace and security in our community is being held in The Gambia.

Hon.

Speaker, The significance of this joint committee meeting cannot be overemphasised.

The world is facing an unprecedented crisis and the ECOWAS Community is not an exception.
The impact of the Covid 19 pandemic and the emergence of new conflicts in the world has negatively affected the ECOWAS Community, thus leading to high cost of living in our member states.

the consequences of climate change are posing risks to food security, the challenges of democracy in some of our member states and increased incidences of violent extremism demonstrates the relevance and urgency of this delocalised meeting.
We ae of course aware that progress is being made in detecting and monitoring early signs of conflict, and this is enhanced by local initiatives that facilitate ownership.

Conflict- prevention mechanisms have been established which provide useful insights into potential crises.

However, these mechanisms should be strengthened to produce timely and tangible outcomes.
This joint committee meeting therefore illuminates the commitment of the ECOWAS Parliament to the aspirations of the citizens of the ECOWAS community as it will explore the missing link between proper legislative processes and procedures and the complex art of governance.
This is obvious because just like our national parliaments, committees of the ECOWAS Parliament have the mandate to conduct enquiries on a range of issues and produce reports to assist the ECOWAS Commission and all stakeholders in protecting, promoting and fulfilling the rights and liberties of the people.

Hon.

Speaker There is already growing interest more conflict prevention and promotion of peace and security around the world.
As we assess the gaps in the implementation of the legislative frameworks for conflict prevention in our sub region, let us also bear in mind that the promotion and strengthening of democracy and good governance in our member states will be a crucial step forward to achieving our objective.

The ECOWAS Parliament has a critical role to play in this.

As the elected representatives of the people, Honourable Members have the honorable task to ensure our governments are for and by the people.
In the performance of our key functions of our legislation, representation and oversight functions, we can actively engage in the development and implementation of laws, policies and practices that promote democracy and good governance in our respective member states.

Hon.

Speaker, To conclude, I wish to urge colleagues to make maximum use of the opportunities presented by this meeting to engage on the meeting theme with a view to proffer tangible solutions.
The promotion of peace and security is an arduous task.

However, the consultative approach applied in the conceptualisation of our conflict prevention sits well in the ECOWAS “people centred” vision and introduces another avenue for true regional integration to occur.

We must come up with strategic guidelines that will ensure full implement.

Once again, I welcome you all to this delocalised meeting and please don’t forget the smiles of our smiling coast.