peace and security in accordance with the Protocol on Non- aggression and Mutual Defense in the Great Lakes Region, and in particular (a) To renounce the threat or the use of force as policies means or instrument aimed at settling disagreements or disputes or to achieve national objectives in the Great Lakes Region;
(b)
To abstain from sending or supporting armed opposition forces or armed groups or insurgents onto the territory of other Member States, or from tolerating the presence on their territories of armed groups or insurgents engaged in armed conflicts or involved in acts of violence or subversion against the Government of another State;
(c)
To cooperate at all levels with a view to disarming and dismantling existing armed rebel groups and to promote the joint and participatory management of state and human security on their common borders.
(d)
If any Member State fails to comply with the provisions of this Article, an extraordinary Summit shall be convened to consider appropriate action.
Article 6 - Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance The Member States undertake to promote and observe democracy and good governance in accordance with the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and in particular:
(a)
To promote and observe democratic principles and standards;
(b)
To set up institutions to promote good governance, the rule of law and the respect for human rights through constitutional systems based on the separation of powers, political pluralism, the regular organization of free, democratic, and credible elections, the participatory, transparent and responsible management of business, institutions and public property.
Article 7 - Protocol on Judicial Cooperation The Member States undertake, in accordance with the Protocol on Judicial Cooperation, to cooperate in matters of extradition, judicial investigation and prosecution.
Article 8 - Protocol for the Prevention and the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity and all forms of Discrimination The Member States, in accordance with the Protocol on the Prevention and the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity and all forms of Discrimination, recognize that the crime of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity are crimes under international law and against the rights of peoples, and undertake in particular:
(a)
To refrain from, prevent and punish, such crimes;
(b)
To condemn and eliminate all forms of discrimination and discriminatory practices;
(c)
To ensure the strict observance of this undertaking by all national, regional, and local public authorities and institutions;
(d)
To proscribe all propaganda and all organizations which are inspired by ideas or theories based on the superiority of a race or a group of people of a particular ethnic origin, or which try to justify or encourage any form of ethnic, religious, racial or gender based hatred or discrimination.
Article 9 - Protocol Against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources The Member States agree, in accordance with the Protocol Against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources, to put in place regional rules and mechanisms for combating the illegal exploitation of natural resources which constitute a violation of the States' right of permanent sovereignty over their natural resources and which represent a serious source of insecurity, instability, tension and conflicts, and in particular:
(a)
To ensure that any activity bearing on natural resources must scrupulously respect the permanent sovereignty of each State over its natural resources and comply with harmonised national legislation as well as the principles of transparency, responsibility, equity, and respect for the environment and human settlements;
(b)
To put to an end, through national and international legal means, to impunity in the illegal exploitation of natural resources by natural persons and legal entities;
(c)
To put in place a regional certification mechanism for the exploitation, monitoring, and verification of natural resources within the Great Lakes Region.
Article 10 - Protocol on the Specific Reconstruction and Development Zone The Member States agree, in accordance with the Protocol on the Specific Reconstruction and Development Zone, to implement, an economic development and local regional integration process, pursuant to the decision contained in the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration to declare the Great Lakes Region as a Specific Reconstruction and Development Zone, and for this purpose, to institute in particular:
(a)
Transformer development basins to promote local regional integration of the Border populations;
(b)
A Special Reconstruction and Development Fund for the purpose of supporting the implementation of the Protocols and Programmers of Action selected in the priority areas of peace and security, democracy and good governance, economic development and regional integration, and humanitarian, social and environmental issues.
Article 11 - Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence against Women and Children The Member States undertake, in accordance with the Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children, to combat sexual violence against women and children through preventing, criminalizing and punishing acts of sexual violence, both in times of peace and in times of war, in accordance with national laws and international criminal law.
Article 12 - Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons The Member States undertake, in accordance with the Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons, to provide special protection and Assistance to internally displaced persons and in particular to adopt and implement the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as proposed by the United Nations Secretariat.
Article 13 - Protocol on Property Rights of Returning Persons The Member States undertake, in accordance with the Protocol on the Property Rights of Returning Persons, to provide legal protection for the property of internally displaced persons and refugees in their countries of origin, and in particular to:
(a)
Adopt legal principles whereby the Member States shall ensure that refugees and internally displaced persons, upon returning to their areas of origin, recover their property with the assistance of the local traditional and administrative authorities;
(b)
Create a legal framework for resolving disputes arising from the recovery of property previously occupied or owned by returning persons.
Article 14 - Protocol on the Management of Information and Communication The Member States agree, in accordance with the Protocol on the Management of Information and Communication, to establish a Regional Council for Information and Communication whose role, in particular, shall be:
(a)
To promote the free exchange of ideas;
(b)
To promote freedom of expression and the press;
(c)
To provide training and civic education through the media.
Article 15 - Subsequent Protocols The Member States agree that any subsequent Protocols that they may adopt after the entry into force of this Pact shall be an integral part of the Pact. Any such Protocol shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions governing amendments and revision as set out in Article 34(5).
Chapter III The Programmes of Action
Article 16 - Objectives of the Programmes of Action The Member States undertake to promote the joint strategies and policies outlined in the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration within the framework of the objectives of the sector Programmes of Action.
Article 17 - The Programme of Action for Peace and Security The Member States undertake to ensure sustainable peace and security in the whole Region of the Great Lakes, in the framework of the Programme of Action for Peace and Security, which is aimed at:
(a)
Promoting the joint management of the security of common borders;
(b)
Promoting, maintaining, and enhancing cooperation in the fields of peace, conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes;
(c)
Promoting inter-State cooperation on general security issues including combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, preventing, and combating organized transnational criminal activities and terrorism.
Article 18 - The Programme of Action for Democracy and Good Governance
