The 3rd Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, Lucia Dos Passos, said on Thursday in Dakar that the institution is working to repair the damage the African continent suffered during colonization.
“We are here today to face a historic challenge: that of confronting the deep wounds of past injustices while working for collective healing,” Dos Passos said at the opening of consultations with civil society, the media and the diaspora on the theme “Promoting Pan-African synergies for justice and reparations” to mark the 20th anniversary of the Pan-African Parliament.
Insisting on colonization, the 3rd Vice President of the continental parliamentary institution said: “As the deliberative body of the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament has a unique role to play in this process of reparation. Reparations are not just a matter of material or financial compensation; they are an act of recognition, commitment to redress structural inequalities, and a promise to build a more just future for generations to come.”
To achieve this goal, Lucia Dos Passos called for the mobilization of “all the living forces of our continent. This is why this event focuses on the engagement with three strategic actors: the African diaspora, the media and civil society. ”
“The African diaspora, with its rich history of struggle and innovation, is an essential force for strengthening our continental aspirations. The media, for its part, has a key role to play in raising awareness, disseminating pan-African ideals and strengthening institutional accountability.
Finally, “civil society is the beating heart of our nations, ensuring that the needs of citizens, especially the most marginalized, are at the heart of our policies and actions,” she said.
TE/sf/lb/gik/APA