Report

The parliamentary delegation of the Canadian Branch that participated in the Bureau meeting of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on 8 July 2016 and the 42nd Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie also in Antananarivo from 9-12 July 2016, has the honour to present its report. Led by Joël Lightbound, Chair of the Canadian Branch, the delegation included the following parliamentarians: the Hon. Mobina Jaffer, Senator; Darrell Samson, Member and Vice-Chair of the Canadian Branch; Francis Drouin, Member; Joël Godin, Member and Vice-Chair of the Canadian Branch; and Robert Aubin, Member and Chair of the APF’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The delegation was assisted by David-Andrés Novoa, Executive Secretary of the Canadian Branch, and Jean-Luc Bourdages, an analyst with the Library of Parliament and advisor to the Canadian Branch.

Some 350 people from approximately 40 branches participated in the 42nd Session of the APF: Andorra, Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels (hereafter Belgium), Benin, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Congo, Egypt, France, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Niger, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Central African Republic, Senegal, Switzerland, Chad, Togo, Valais, Aosta Valley, Vaud (Switzerland) and Vietnam. Representatives from several organizations related to the Francophonie were also in attendance.

Bureau business

The Bureau of the APF met in Antananarivo on 8 July 2016. The meeting was chaired by Aubin Minaku, Member, President of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie and Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Joël Lightbound, Chair of the Canadian Branch, and Robert Aubin, Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, participated in the Bureau meeting.

Opening of Bureau meeting

Bureau business began with opening remarks from the host delegation and the President of the APF, Aubin Minaku. Mr. Minaku then asked members of the Bureau to adopt the agenda and the minutes of the last Bureau meeting held on 28-29 January 2016 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

APF membership

The Parliamentary Secretary General and Member (France), Pascal Terrasse, said that the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie is made up of 83 branches, 52 of which are full members, 14 are associate members and 17 are observers. He noted that the Syrian Arab Republic is currently suspended.

Activity report of the Parliamentary Secretary General

The Parliamentary Secretary General, Pascal Terrasse, presented his activity report, in which he outlined the results of activities of the first half of 2016 based on the priorities he had set. Some of the areas addressed follow.

• He noted the key decisions of the Bureau’s inter-sessional meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in January 2016, and those of the APF committee and network meetings in the spring.
• He shared developments in the relationship with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the APF’s participation at the World Bank’s Global Parliamentary Conference (Washington, 10-12 April 2016) and the 7th Global Conference of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) (Lima, 23-26 February 2016).
• On the theme of democratic oversight, he provided an update on the sections that have been suspended or that are under observation: the Syrian Arab Republic (suspended since 2011), the Central African Republic (now under observation), and Burundi (under observation). He also referred to the review of the APF’s standard on democratic oversight and parliamentary democracy.
• On parliamentary cooperation, he gave an overview of election observer missions, parliamentary seminars and the program for young francophone parliamentarians. He also touched on the multilateral parliamentary development programs implemented in Madagascar and in Mali.

In addition to reviewing activities from the first half of 2016, the Parliamentary Secretary General discussed the security of APF meetings across the Francophonie and shared steps taken by the APF in this regard.

Parliamentary cooperation

The Parliamentary Secretary General, Pascal Terrasse, gave an update on the APF’s various cooperation programs. He first mentioned the parliamentary seminars, including the civil registration program scheduled for the first half of 2016 in Libreville but postponed indefinitely at the request of the Gabonese section and then cancelled for 2016. He next touched on the Young Francophone Parliamentarians program, noting that the second session scheduled in the Africa Region in June 2016 had been postponed due to a lack of interest and that the Canadian and Quebec sections would host the Americas session in October 2016. The work and discussions of young parliamentarians focus on youth employment and the economic Francophonie. It is likely that the group will form a formal network within the APF.

The Parliamentary Secretary General summarized the activities of the Noria program to modernize information systems, promote the Francophonie’s support of Moldova and support training and internships. As to the Noria program, Robert Aubin, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, noted that this committee had adopted a motion at its inter-sessional meeting calling on the APF to conduct an audit of the program. The motion was supported by the Secretariat. As to the Francophone Youth Parliament (FYP), Mr. Aubin commented on the Ontario Branch’s request to be able to select two candidates for the delegation to the FYP every two years. He explained the APF-OIF joint membership, while Joël Lightbound, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Canadian Branch, said that the Branch already sends delegates from all provinces, including Ontario, to the FYP.

Treasurer’s report on the 2015 financial statements and update on 2016 programming

On behalf of the APF’s Treasurer, Michel Wolter, Member (Luxembourg), Anne Brasseur, Member (Luxembourg), presented the key aspects of the 2015 Financial Report and Statements and the report on the 2016 Programming Update.

Ms. Brasseur said that the 2015 fiscal year ended with a surplus of 73,150 euros. Revenues (1,554,288 euros) and expenditures (1,481,138 euros) were approximately 25% lower than budgeted due to weaker fund activity, as announced at the Bureau meeting in Siem Reap in January 2016.

In addition, the Treasurer's report (Appendix 2 of his report) presented branches’ in-kind contributions in 2014. The report highlighted Canada’s contribution, including the assignment of a full-time parliamentary official to the Secretariat General in Paris. The Parliamentary Secretary General asked the branches to ask their parliaments for additional funding of 15,000 euros to meet future needs.

The Bureau approved the financial statements for 2015 and took note of the updates to the 2016 programming.

Partnership agreements with the APF

Parliamentary Secretary General, Pascal Terrasse, presented the draft cooperation agreements that were reached with various organizations, including the Pan-African Parliament (for a renewable three-year period); Fondation Hirondelle (which provides assistance to the media in conflict or post-conflict countries); the Stop TB Partnership and Global Health Advocates, and Dakar sur Méditerranée (an extension of the framework agreement until 30 June 2017). To address concerns raised by some branches, the Parliamentary Secretary General suggested that the APF keep its partnerships to UN-recognized organizations.

Follow-up on the implementation of the APF 2014-2018 strategic framework

The Parliamentary Secretary General gave a brief update of the strategic framework for 2014-2018. He provided an overview of recent and planned activities under the new Young Parliamentarians Program. The Quebec Branch questioned the Parliamentary Secretary General about item 3.3 of the strategic framework, which aims to develop the notion of evaluation and results in view of the APF’s role as a francophone actor in interparliamentary cooperation. The Moroccan Branch commented on the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime.

Committee work

President Aubin Minaku asked the committee chairs to summarize their activities since the Bureau’s last meeting in January 2016.

Jacques Legendre, Senator (France) and Chair of the Political Committee summarized the committee’s work at the meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on 12-13 April 2016. Didier Berberat, State Councillor (Switzerland), presented the activity report of the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee, which he chairs, as well as the Parliamentary Network to Fight HIV/AIDS, which reports to his committee. Mr. Berberat reported on the work of the committee’s last meeting, held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on 28-29 April 2016. The Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Robert Aubin, Member (Canada), delivered his report summarizing the work of the committee’s meeting in Ottawa on 22-24 April 2016. Lastly, Salibou Garba, Member (Chad), presented the report of the Cooperation and Development Committee, which he chairs. He summarized the work of the committee’s meeting in Midrand, South Africa, on 26-28 April 2016 at the invitation of the Pan-African Parliament.

Work of the APF’s Network of Women Parliamentarians

The Chair of the Network of Women Parliamentarians, Lydienne Epoube, Member (Cameroon), presented her activity report. She commented on the inter-sessional meeting held in Tangier, Morocco, on 25-26 February 2016. Several topics were discussed, including discrimination against women in relation to property transfer and inheritance, adult women’s literacy, monitoring international commitments on gender equality and women’s rights.

Reports from regional chargés de mission

The Bureau members heard from the regional chargés de mission about activities in their respective regions.

Christophe Lutundula Pene Apala, Member (Democratic Republic of Congo) and chargé de mission for the Africa Region, presented his activity report to the Bureau members. He summarized the discussions held at the 24th Assembly in Bamako on 26-27 May 2016. Participants discussed the political and security situation in Africa’s French-speaking countries and two more specific themes: challenges and hopes for Africa at COP21 and social media and democratic development in francophone Africa.

Gila Martow, Member (Ontario) and chargé de mission for the Americas Region, presented her activity report. She summarized the discussions that took place during the videoconference on 19 April 2016, which was chaired by Joël Lightbound, Member (Canada) and Chair of the Canadian Branch. Participants discussed the latest Bureau meeting and discussed the plan to consolidate and expand the Americas Region, the criteria for financial support from the Americas Region, the Francophone Youth Parliament of the Americas and the Young Parliamentarians Program, and planned the 32nd Session of the Americas’ Regional Assembly in Ottawa in July 2016.

Europe’s chargé de mission, Jean-Paul Wahl, Member (Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels), presented the report for the European Region. He told Bureau members that the conference of European Region chairs was held in Capbreton, France, on 2-4 May 2016. He summarized the 2nd annual Francophone Economic Forum held in Paris in October 2015, discussed the programming for the next assembly and followed up on COP21.

As to the Asia-Pacific Region, it was noted that it meets every two years. The next meeting is in Cambodia in 2017.

Presentation of the APF’s 42nd Session in Antananarivo

President Aubin Minaku asked Jean Max Rakotomamonjy, Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar, to present the proceedings of the APF’s 42nd Session. He said that the theme of the session was “Shared Growth and Responsible Development: Conditions for Stability in Francophone Countries and the World,” which will also be the theme of the upcoming Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Francophonie in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in November 2016.

Bureau members of the Bureau adopted the agenda of the 42nd Session.

Preparations for the XVI Francophonie Summit in Antananarivo

At the request of President Minaku, the Parliamentary Secretary General, Mr. Terrasse briefly described the preparations and adoption of the Opinion to be presented by the APF at the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Francophonie in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in November 2016. This opinion will be based on the discussions held during the APF’s current session.

Creation of the Geoffrey-Dieudonné Award and Ordre de la Pléiade

Parliamentary Secretary General Pascal Terrasse confirmed the creation of the Geoffrey Dieudonné Award in memory of the senior officer from the Parliament of Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels who was killed during the terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, on 20 November 2015. Robert Aubin, Member (Canada), presented the eligibility criteria for the award, which will be overseen by the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, which he chairs.

The Bureau then adopted the list of recipients of the Ordre de la Pléiade, Ordre de la Francophonie and Cross-Cultural Dialogue.

APF’s Communications Policy

Parliamentary Secretary General Pascal Terrasse said that the APF’s new website had just marked its one-year anniversary. He believes that it fully meets the expectations of APF member branches. He also mentioned the APF’s Facebook page and Twitter account, and the Francophone Youth Parliament’s Facebook page.

The Parliamentary Secretary General commented on changes and replacements at the APF Secretariat and the next meeting on the economic Francophonie

Date and place of next meeting

The Parliamentary Secretary General said that the Bureau’s winter 2017 meeting would be held in Quebec City, Canada, at the invitation of the Quebec Branch. He also said that the APF’s 43rd Session would be held in Luxembourg on 6-11 July 2017.

Work of the Network of Women Parliamentarians

The APF’s Network of Women Parliamentarians met in Antananarivo on 9 July 2016, Lydienne Epoube, Member (Cameroon) and Chair of the Network, presiding.

Participants adopted the draft agenda and record of decisions from the Network’s inter-sessional meeting on 24 February 2016 in Tangier, Morocco. The Chair, Ms. Epoube, then reported on the Network’s activities since its last meeting in February.

Chantal Guittet, Member (France), then presented her report on discrimination against women in relation to property transfer and inheritance.

Gila Martow, Member (Ontario), presented a report on adult women’s literacy. The Ontario Branch’s report included a resolution calling on the states and government members of the Francophonie to conduct an open and consultative study on proven, innovative teaching methods. The members of the Network adopted the resolution.

Saida Chaker Mtalssi, Member (Morocco), presented a report on the gender dimension of climate change: gender equality and climate justice.

The Hon. Mobina Jaffer, Senator (Canada), presented a report on engaging men and boys to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls, on behalf of the rapporteur of the Canadian Branch, Sylvie Boucher, Member (Canada). In her presentation, Senator Jaffer highlighted Canadian initiatives and concrete examples that she had seen firsthand in various contexts. During the discussion, representatives from other branches also mentioned initiatives to reduce violence against women and girls. Lastly, the Network members agreed to the Canadian Branch’s request to reply to a questionnaire that would be sent to them to complete the study on this important issue.

Participants next followed up on international commitments, including the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A dozen or so branches still have concerns about the CEDAW. Senator Jaffer summarized the eighth and ninth progress reports tabled by Canada in April 2015 on the convention’s implementation.

Regarding the Network’s recent activities, the Chair said that two seminars had not yet taken place and that new initiatives had been proposed, including an observation mission on migrant women.

Dilek Elveren, with the OIF’s gender equality program, spoke to members about the OIF’s policies and activities in this area. She mentioned that the organization is working on a resolution aimed at setting up a civil society network on gender.

The Hon. Mobina Jaffer, Senator (Canada), presented Canada’s parliamentary and government initiatives in response to the three resolutions adopted at the Network’s meeting in Bern in July 2015.

At the end of the meeting, Network members discussed the presentation by Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of the Francophonie, while Maryse Gaudreault, Member (Quebec), briefly presented the leadership workshop for women parliamentarians to be held in Quebec City in March 2017.

Work of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee

The Parliamentary Affairs Committee met in Antananarivo on 10 July 2016, Robert Aubin, Member (Canada), presiding.

After the adoption of the agenda and the minutes of the Committee’s inter-sessional meeting in Ottawa, Canada, on 22-23 April 2016, Mr. Aubin said a few words before moving to the presentation and review of the following draft reports:

• National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Francophone Countries, rapporteur: N’Guessan Kouame, Member (Côte d’Ivoire);
• Political Participation of Youth in Francophone Countries, rapporteur: Jean Rousselle, Member (Quebec);
• Bicameralism in Francophone Countries, rapporteur: Claudine Lepage (France), Vice-Chair of the Committee;
• Data Protection Authorities in Francophone Countries, co-rapporteurs: Josué Mbadinga Mbadinga (Gabon), Vice-Chair of the Committee, and N’Guessan Kouame (Côte d’Ivoire);
• Follow-up on Undocumented Children, rapporteur: Claudine Lepage (France), Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The members listened to a presentation by Father Pedro Pablo Opeka, founder of Amakasoa in Madagascar. They then heard from Georges Nakseu, Director of Political Affairs and Democratic Governance at the OIF.

As regards parliamentary cooperation programs, the Committee members discussed the following topics:

• francophone electoral missions (Nadia El Yousfi, Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels);
• the Noria program Noria (Robert Aubin, Canada, Chair of the Committee);
• parliamentary seminars and training workshops (Louis Vlavonou, Benin);
• the Geoffrey-Dieudonné Award (Nadia El Yousfi, Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels);
• the multilateral initiative on francophone interparliamentary cooperation (IMCIF) and multilateral programs on francophone parliamentary development (Robert Aubin, Canada, Chair of the Committee);
• the Francophone Youth Parliament and National Youth Parliaments (Josué Mbadinga Mbadinga, Gabon, Vice-Chair of the Committee);
• the Young Francophone Parliamentarians program (Robert Aubin, Canada, Chair of the Committee)

The Committee continued its deliberations with a presentation by Pascal Bonnetain, Secretary General of the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse (OFQJ).

At the end of the meeting, the members reviewed resolutions and discussed preparations for the APF’s Opinion for the Francophonie Summit and the presentation by Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of the Francophonie.

Work of the Political Committee

On 10 July 2016, the Political Committee met in Antananarivo, the Chair of the Committee, Senator Jacques Legendre (France), presiding.

After adopting the agenda and record of decisions from the inter-sessional meeting on 12-13 April 2016 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, the Chair invited participants to go around the table and report on political events in the various branches. Darrell Samson, Member (Canada), outlined political events in the Canadian Parliament in recent months.

The parliamentarians then took note of the Report on Political Situations in Francophone Countries, presented by Charles Otando, Member (Gabon), and supported by a presentation by Georges Nakseu-Nguefang, Director of Political Affairs and Democratic Governance at the OIF. Members confirmed the reinstatement of Guinea (Gonacri), Madagascar and the Central African Republic. Resolutions on the political situations in the following countries in crisis were also adopted: Burundi, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Central African Republic and Haiti.

The Committee also adopted two resolutions on international terrorism and the release of prisoners of conscience. These resolutions were subsequently adopted at the APF plenary.

Darrell Samson, Member (Canada), the alternate rapporteur for Dennis Dawson, Senator (Canada), presented a draft report entitled “The Legalization of Marijuana from a Public Policy Perspective.” The report raised little discussion, as the members would use the questionnaire that would be provided at a later date.

André Drolet, Member (Quebec) and rapporteur, presented a new draft report entitled “The Fight Against Religious Radicalism: The Current Landscape and the Role of Parliamentarians.” The subject created some discussion. The Hon. Mobina Jaffer, Senator (Canada), commented on the role of women in radicalization, including the role of mothers with regard to their children. In the context of the fight against terrorism, the Committee members watched a video by Jean Paul Laborde, the Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee.

The Committee then studied a draft standard on parliamentary democracy, submitted by rapporteur Alain Onkelinx, Member (Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels). The Committee also considered the review of the APF’s democratic oversight process. In this context, the Committee heard from Georges Nakseu-Nguefang, Director of Political Affairs and Democratic Governance at the OIF.

Anne Seydoux-Christe, State Councillor (Switzerland), briefly stated her intention to prepare a report on the fight against the death penalty. Before concluding their work, the members of the Committee agreed on the question to be addressed to the Secretary General of the Francophonie, Michaëlle Jean, at the plenary.

Work of the Cooperation and Development Committee

The Cooperation and Development Committee met in Antananarivo on 10 July 2016, the Chair of the Committee, Salibou Garba, Member (Chad), presiding. After adopting the agenda, Mr. Garba briefly addressed the members and then asked them to approve the minutes and record of decisions from the Committee’s last meeting at the seat of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, on 26-27 April 2016.

As part of its work, the Committee heard from various speakers on the following themes:

• “The Economic Francophonie,” by Kako Nubukpo, Director of the Economic and Digital Francophonie at the OIF.
• “Youth Entrepreneurship,” by Pascal Bonnetain, Secretary General of the Office franco-québécois pour la Jeunesse (OFQJ).
• “The Business Climate in Indian Ocean Countries,” by Hassanein Hiridjee, President and CEO of the Hiridjee Group.
• “The Collaborative Economy,” by Pascal Terrasse, the APF’s Parliamentary Secretary General.

The Committee received two reports on the following subjects:

• “International Migration in the Mediterranean,” rapporteurs: Stéphane Demilly (Member, France) and Ndoula Thiam (Member, Mali)
• “Agricultural Policy Instruments in Francophone Countries,” rapporteur: Benoit Charette (Member, Quebec). The members of the Committee adopted a resolution related to the report.

Discussion continued on the following reports:

• “The Post-2015 International Development Agenda: Cooperation Opportunities for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth in Francophone Countries,” rapporteur: Francis Drouin (Member, Canada). The ensuing discussion focused on the compatibility of the World Trade Organization (WTO) objectives and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• “Preparations for COP22, Marrakech, Morocco,” rapporteurs: Sylvestre Ossiala (Member, Congo Brazzaville) and Angélique Ngoma (Member, Gabon).
• “Monitoring International Trade Negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO),” rapporteur: Benoit Charette (Member, Quebec).
• “Drafting the APF Opinion on the Theme of the Francophonie Summit: Shared Growth and Responsible Development: Conditions for Stability in Francophone Countries and the World.”
• “The Endogenous Industrialization of Africa: Ways and Means,” rapporteurs: Sylvestre Ossiala (Member, Congo Brazzaville) and Angélique Ngoma (Member, Gabon)

Deliberations ended with discussion on the Committee’s future work and an update on previously adopted resolutions.

Work of the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee

The Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee met in Antananarivo on 10 July 2016, Didier Berberat, State Councillor (Switzerland), presiding.

The branches in attendance adopted the agenda and the record of decisions from the last meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on 28-29 April 2016. Mr. Berberat presented his activity report, and then invited Carole Poirier, rapporteur and Member (Quebec), to present the report on Monitoring the Implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and her draft report on Civics.

The members in attendance listened to a presentation by Ma-Umba Mabiala, Director of Education and Youth at the OIF on the theme, Funding and Education Issues in Francophone Countries from the Education 2030 Perspective. André Crettenand, Director of Information at TV5MONDE, gave an update on the Francophonie television station.

The Committee then followed up on its three resolutions adopted by the APF plenary in Bern in 2015 concerning universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services, access to parliamentary information to bring citizens and elected officials closer together and the inclusion of culture in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda. This was followed by a presentation by Armandine Pruvot, President of the Association malgache des professeurs de français.

Mr. Berberat outlined the new rules for the Senghor-Césaire Award. He also invited members to discuss future topics that could be addressed by the Committee, such as studies on de-radicalization and copyright protection in the Francophonie.

Work of the APF plenary

The APF plenary was held at the International Conference Centre in Ivato, Madagascar, on 11-12 July 2016, Aubin Minaku, President of the APF and Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo, presiding. Several dignitaries addressed the assembly during the official opening ceremony:

• Jean Max Rakotomamonjy, Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar;
• Aubin Minaku, President of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie;
• H.E. Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of the Francophonie; and
• Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Republic of Madagascar.

The plenary’s work continued at the International Conference Centre in Ivato, where the assembly adopted the agenda and took attendance. The APF’s Parliamentary Secretary General, Pascal Terrasse (Member, France) said that the Central African Republic had been reinstated and would be monitored for two years, that the Madagascar and Mali branches would no longer be monitored, and that the Romania Branch had become a full member.

The Parliamentary Secretary General then reported on activities since the meeting in Bern in 2015 and gave an update on the security of the APF’s various meetings and activities. Mr. Terrasse followed his presentation with an overview of multilateral programs on francophone parliamentary development currently deployed in Madagascar and in Mali.

The plenary continued with a presentation by the Secretary General of the Francophonie, H.E. Michaëlle Jean. In her speech, the Secretary General welcomed the increased cooperation in several areas between the OIF and the APF since the renewal in December 2014 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. She noted in particular that under the agreement the OIF provides 40% of the APF’s funding. The Secretary General addressed a number of shared challenges, including, first and foremost, democratic stability in the French-speaking world, which she believes requires respect for rights and freedoms and the rule of law, a sine qua non of growth and development in francophone countries. Ms. Jean stressed the importance of missions to support democracy in fragile states, the need to act before crises erupt in order to avoid violence and chaos, and the need to work together in the fight against terrorism and radicalization. Lastly, she discussed the Francophonie’s economic strategy; education, including French-language learning; and the Sustainable Development Goals. Questions relating to several of these themes followed.

Anne Brasseur, Member (Luxemburg), replacing Michel Wolter, Member (Luxemburg) and APF Treasurer, presented the 2015 Financial Report and Statements. The assembly adopted the financial report and ratified the cooperation agreements with the Fondation Hirondelle, the Stop TB Partnership and Global Health Advocates, the Institut de prospective économique du monde méditerranéen and the Pan-African Parliament. The President of the Pan-African Parliament, Roger Nkodo Dang, gave a presentation. The APF then approved the eligibility criteria for the Geoffrey Dieudonné Award in memory of the senior officer from the Parliament of Belgium / French Community / Wallonia-Brussels who was killed during the terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, on 20 November 2015.

The plenary then held its thematic debate in order to draft the Opinion the APF will present to the Heads of State and Government of the Francophonie at the Summit to be held 26-27 November 2016 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on the theme: “Shared Growth and Responsible Development: Conditions for Stability in Francophone Countries and the World.” The APF’s member branches were asked to present their proposals for the Opinion. To start, the chairs of the committees and the chair of the Network of Women Parliamentarians presented their respective priorities. The Chair of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Robert Aubin (Member, Canada) named the committee’s top three priorities: (1) registration of undocumented children; (2) reliable civil registration; and (3) youth: the way of the future. The Chair of the Canadian Branch, Joël Lightbound (Member, Canada), presented the branch’s priorities, which are based on three recommendations to promote lasting, inclusive and sustainable growth: (1) help break down barriers impeding women’s economic empowerment and invest heavily in the future of children and youth; (2) promote policies that support economic growth and redistribute the results of this growth; and (3) evaluate the capacity building role the Francophonie could play in francophone statistical organizations.

The plenary adopted the draft reports and resolutions presented on behalf of the standing committees and the Network of Women Parliamentarians. The following resolutions were adopted:

1. Resolution on international terrorism;
2. Resolution on the situation in Burundi;
3. Resolution on the situation in the Central African Republic;
4. Resolution on the situation in Haiti;
5. Resolution on the situation in Syria;
6. Resolution in support of releasing prisoners of conscience;
7. Resolution on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in francophone countries;
8. Resolution on the political participation of youth in francophone countries;
9. Resolution on agricultural policy instruments in the francophone countries;
10. Resolution on shared growth and the fight against poverty in francophone countries;
11. Resolution on adult women’s literacy;
12. Resolution on the implementation of family codes.

    Mr. Minaku invited the chargés de mission from the Africa, Americas, European and Asian regions to report on their respective activities. Before adjourning the meeting, the President of the APF announced that the 43rd Session would be held in Luxemburg on 6-11 July 2017. The Speaker of the Senate of Madagascar had the honour of concluding the APF’s plenary.

    Conclusion

    Through its participation in the 42nd Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, the Canadian Branch accomplished its objectives to meet its international obligations, defend its budgetary interests, actively participate in discussions with the OIF Secretary General, ensure approval of its candidates for the Ordre de la Pléiade, maintain international ties and defend its interests.

    Moreover, the Antananarivo session was an opportunity for many new Canadian parliamentarians to participate for the first time in an APF annual session and build ties with parliamentarians from across the Francophonie. Lastly, the Canadian Branch’s rapporteurs presented their draft reports on themes that affect Canadians and citizens of the Francophonie.

    Respectfully submitted,

    
    

    Darrell Samson, Member
    Chair of the Canadian Branch of the
    Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF)