The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Wednesday said it would continue to find lasting solutions to the lingering crises in Mali and Guinea Bissau.
This is contained in the ECOWAS Commission?s January newsletter in Abuja.
The statement said that the Commission had continued its multifaceted support for the stability of Mali, especially towards the conclusion of the transition process.
“There was humanitarian assistance to Mali and Member States hosting refugees, through the Emergency Response Team (EERT).
“After the Presidential elections in July and August 2013, parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place in November and December 2013,??it said.
It stated that the Commission had also continued to support the transition process in Guinea-Bissau including seeking consensus among the international partners to end the crisis.
It added that these efforts were geared towards the resolution of political and security crises in the country in particular the general election before end of December 2013.
“To this end, the Commission took part in the joint assessment mission of the ECOWAS, AU, UN, CPLP, EU and OIF,?? it further said.
The statement stressed that ECOWAS deployment of Human Rights Observers to Mali in March 2013, deepened political governance and respect for rule of law and human rights in the region.
It stated that support was also provided to Member States in the organisation in support for Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
It said that the Security and Defence Sector Reform Programme was started with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of barracks, and the demobilisation of veterans of the armed forces of Guinea-Bissau.
The statement also noted that there was continued reporting of security and early warning on the security situation in the region.
It said the Commission organised a training session in March 2013 for decision makers on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to assist Member States on disaster risk reduction and its management.
It stated that the authority adopted a number of important legal documents in the areas of social affairs, including the Supplementary Act establishing the Forum for Social Dialogue.
Others were the Supplementary Act of the General Convention on Social Security among the ECOWAS States.
It also included the ECOWAS Plan of Action for Youth Employment as well as the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan against Child Labour.
