DECISION ON THE REPORTS OF THE SPECIALISED
TECHNICAL COMMITTEES (STCs)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Reports of the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) and other Ministerial Meetings.
2. RECALLS Decision EX.CL/Dec. 1032(XXXIV), adopted at the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2019, regarding the moratorium on the creation of new bodies and offices.
3. STRESSES that the following Decisions should not bear any financial, legal and structural implications to the AU and FURTHER CALLS UPON the STCs and all technical ministerial councils and meetings to refrain from adopting any structures or budgets that were not considered by the AU policy Organs through the due process.
4. REQUESTS that all STCs adopt their Reports at the end of their meetings.
I. The 1st Extraordinary Virtual Session of the STC on Education, Science and Technology, 30 April 2020 - EX.CL/1248(XXXVIII)
The Executive Council,
5. WELCOMES the convening of the 1st Extra Ordinary virtual Session of the STC on Education, Science and Technology (ESTI) on 30 April 2020.
6. TAKES NOTE of the Report, ESTI response and declaration to Covid-19 and the recommendations contained therein, as annexed.
II. The 13th Ordinary Session of the AU STC on Defense, Safety and Security, 5 November 2020 - EX.CL/1249(XXXVIII)
The Executive Council,
7. WELCOMES the convening of the virtual 13th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety and Security (STCDSS), from 2 to 5 November 2020.
8. TAKES NOTE of the Declaration of the 13th Ordinary Session of the STCDSS and the outcomes contained therein, as annexed.
9. REQUESTS the Commission, working with Member States and with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), to follow up on the activities outlined in the Declaration.
III. The 1st Extraordinary Session of the STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, 1-4 December 2020, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - EX.CL/1250(XXXVIII)
The Executive Council,
10. WELCOMES the convening of the virtual 1st Extra-Ordinary Session of the STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration from 1 to 4 December 2020.
11. TAKES NOTE of the Report and the Declaration of the 1st Extra-Ordinary Session of the STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the outcomes contained therein, as annexed.
12. APPEALS to Member States to reach a consensus on the current global debate on taxing the digital economy and Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) issues and speak with a unified voice and amplify the Common African Position.
IV. The 5th Ordinary Session of the STC on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, 23-27 November 2020, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - EX. CL/1251 (XXXVIII)
13. WELCOMES the convening of the virtual 5th Specialized Technical Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment held on 23, 24 and 27 November
2020.
14. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the 5th STC on Gender equality and Women empowerment and the recommendations contained therein.
15. ENCOURAGES Member States who have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa to protect women and girls from all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence against women and girls.
16. DIRECTS the PRC to re-examine the outcomes of the 5th Ordinary Session of the STC on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment specifically on:
a) The AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls for adoption by AU Policy Organs;
b) Convening of a Peace Forum for Africa, led by Women and supported and attended by African Heads of State and Government to explore peaceful avenues for conflict resolution and enhance the role of women in advancing the achievement of sustainable peace in Africa; and
c) Implementing the decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council in its 803rd 887th and 951st meetings to institutionalise the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security.
V. Decision on the Report of the STC on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism - EX.CL/1252(XXXVIII)
The Executive Council,
17. WELCOMES the convening of the 1st Extraordinary Session of the STC on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism (STC-TTIIET), in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, held virtually on 12 January
2021.
18. TAKES NOTE of the Report and Declaration of the 1st Extraordinary Session of the STC-TTIIET and the outcomes contained therein, as annexed.
19. DIRECTS the Commission in collaboration with relevant AU bodies and stakeholders to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the Declaration.
20. ENDORSES the PIDA PAP II priority list of projects, while REQUESTING the Commission to submit the projects n°819, 872, 1061 and 1073 to an Ad Hoc Sub-Committee of the PRC for further consultations with the concerned Member States and to report on the matter to the 39th Executive Council meeting in July 2021.