JULY 1994

Rule 1

The African Population Commission shall be composed of the highest possible officials of the OAU Member States of National Population Commissions and/or analogous institutions dealing with population, and development issues.

Rule 2

The Commission will submit the results of its work to the OAU Council of Ministers for consideration and approval.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Rule 3

Within the framework of the Charter of the Organization of African Unity and pursuant to the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery, the Resolution CM/Res.1122 of 46th Session of the OAU Council of Ministers and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community, the Commission is charged with all matters affecting Member States in the field of population and development. In particular, it is assigned the task of:

(a) Providing policy support and leadership to the Organization of African Unity/African Economic Community (OAU/AEC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Development Bank (ADB) Secretariats in the field of population and development with a view to promoting the necessary environment to enable the organizations to play a catalytic role in this field;

(b) Coordinating the activities of National Population Commissions, and/or analogous national institutions and organizations.

(c) Bringing about, developing and promoting cooperation among African countries in the fields of population and development;

(d) Ensuring the mobilization of the necessary resources for the support of population activity in Africa. Promoting a common African position in population and development matters at international population conferences, UN organizations and other inter-regional fora.

(e) Enhancing the level of awareness on and commitment to population and development issues among Member States and assisting them formulating and implementing population policies and programmes.

(f) Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the resolutions and declarations collectively adopted by African countries with a view to charting new strategies to deal with current and pressing population issues in Africa;

(g) Encourage an effective partnership between governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in carrying out activities in population and development matters;

(h) Carrying out any other activities that may be assigned to it by Member States, the Permanent Steering Committee, the OAU Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC), the Council of Ministers and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government;

REPRESENTATION

Rule 4

Each Government shall be represented on the Commission by a delegation led by the highest possible official or a representative of the National Population Commission and/or analogous institutions dealing with population and development matters.

Rule 5

The Government of each Member State shall communicate to the Commission in advance, through the General Secretariat, the list of duly accredited members of its delegation.

OBSERVERS

Rule 6

The Commission, may admit to its proceedings observers belonging to any of the following categories which it may revise if need be in accordance with the Rules governing Observer Status of the Organization of African Unity:

(a) Regional, Continental and International Organizations or Specialized Agencies of the United Nations or of the Organization of African Unity whose activities have a direct bearing on population and development issues;

(b) African inter-governmental Organizations dealing with population and development matters;

(c) Inter-African non-Governmental Organizations, Associations and Institutions whose activities have relevance to population and development issues;

Rule 7

The observers thus admitted may be empowered by the Chairman:

(a) to make a written or verbal statement on a matter within their competence; and or

(b) to answer any questions which may be put to them.

ORDINARY SESSIONS

Rule 8

The Commission shall meet in ordinary session in accordance with the schedule established by the OAU/AEC Secretariat for the subsidory bodies of ECOSOC. At this Session, it shall receive report from the Secretariat on the activities of the previous years as well as consider and approve its future programme.

EXTRAORDINARY SESSION

Rule 9

At the request of a Member State, and subject to the concurrence of two-thirds of the Member States, the Commission shall meet in Extraordinary Session, at least fifteen days after receiving such concurrence.

Rule 10

The agenda of an extraordinary Session shall be communicated to the Member States at least fifteen days before the opening of the Session, and shall comprise only items submitted for consideration in the request for convening the Session.

DATE AND VENUE OF MEETINGS

Rule 11

The Commission shall meet at the OAU Headquarters, or in any other territory of another inviting Member State or in any Member State as the Commission may decide by simple majority. The date and venue shall be decided upon by the Commission at its previous Session. In the event of the Commission being invited by a Member State to meet in its territory, the Member State concerned shall be responsible for any extra costs arising from holding the meeting away from OAU Headquarters.

SECRETARIAT

Rule 12

The Secretariat of the Commission shall be the joint OAU/ECA/ADB Secretariat. The OAU/AEC Secretariat shall be the lead organization and the co-ordinator of the Commission Secretariat. It will work in close collaboration with other regional and international organizations in servicing the meetings of the Commission, providing technical assistance and advice. The Secretariat shall also be the custodian of all documents of the Commission and perform any other duties and functions consistent with the aims and objectives of the Commissions.

AGENDA

Rule 13

The Provisional Agenda for the meeting of the Commission shall be drawn up by the joint OAU/ECA/ADB Secretariat as well as the Bureau of the Commission and communicated to Member States at least 30 days before the opening of the Session.

WORKING LANGUAGES

Rule 14

The working languages of the Commission shall be the working languages of the OAU.

ELECTION OF THE BUREAU AND TERM OF OFFICE

Rule 15

The Commission shall have a Bureau consisting of a Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen and a Rapporteur each from one of the OAU regions.

Rule 16

The Commission shall, at the commencement of each session, elect members of the bureau, whose terms of office shall terminate at the commencement of the next ordinary session. A candidate must secure at least a simple majority

to be declared elected. These officers are not eligible for re-election until all other representatives have held office, or unless the session, for any particular reason, waives this restriction.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BUREAU

Rule 17

The Bureau shall be responsible to prepare the meeting of the Commission and implement its decisions.

Rule 18

The Chairman shall be responsible for conducting meetings in accordance with the rules of procedure of the OAU Council of Ministers and shall in particular open and close the meetings; submit for approval the records of the meetings; direct the debates; grant the use of the floor; submit to a vote, as necessary, matters under discussion;

announce the results of the vote where applicable and rule on points of order.

AMENDMENTS

Rule 19

These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a simple majority of its Members subject to the approval of the Council of Ministers.