Recording here
Webinar on the Impact of the COVID19 Crisis on Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in French and Lusophone Speaking Countries of Central and West Africa.
April 23, 2020, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
As the COVID19 crisis worsens, its effects on the democratic development of African countries becomes one of the main priorities. Much attention has been paid to the question of its consequences for electoral processes. Its impact on constitutionalism and the rule of law in these states has not really been questioned. Much less attention has focused on French and Lusophone-speaking countries in Central and West Africa. It is to fill this double gap that International IDEA is organizing a 2-hour webinar around the theme of the Impact of the COVID19 Crisis on Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in French and Lusophone -speaking Countries of Central and West Africa.
The objective of the exchange will be, from retrospective and prospective practical analyzes, to help decision-making of officials and feed the thinking of experts, teachers, researchers, journalists, citizens around this theme. More specifically, the discussion will consider not only the challenges in terms of socio-political dynamics induced by the COVID crisis19 as well as its impact on constitutionalism and the rule of law in French and Portuguese-speaking countries of Central and West Africa , but also the opportunities it represents for their democratic development. Issues to be discussed will include.
- the sociopolitical dynamics induced by the COVID19 crisis - including participation of more vulnerable persons, access to basic public services, security, accountability, governance - in the French and Lusophone -speaking countries of Central and West Africa.
- the number of countries having declared the state of emergency and the conformity of these declarations with constitutions and constitutional review process.
- the conformity of exceptional laws or regulations adopted within the framework of the state of emergency with the existing constitutional provisions as well as the African Charter on Democracy and Governance and Regional frameworks.
- respect for human rights and public freedoms in emergency situations.
The Webinar will take place on April 23, 2020, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Stockholm/Paris Time and accessible via a link that will be shared shortly.
It will be moderated by Maurice Engueleguele, Thibaut Noel and Mathias Hounkpe, and will have as main speakers.
- - Prof. Theodore Holo, Former President of the Constitutional Court of Benin
- Dr. Cristina Fontes Lima, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Former Minister of Health and Defense of Cabo Verde
- Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily, Former Special Representative of the UNSG in Central Africa
- Mrs Michelle Ndiaye Ntab, Programme Director, IPSS
The following discussants will be invited to speak.
- Dr. Christine Desouches, Former Delegate for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
-Prof. Guy Rosatanga-Rignault, University Omar Bongo of Libreville, Gabon
- Prof. Viviane Ondoua Biwole, University of Yaounde2, Cameroon, and Yale University, USA
- Prof. Joel Aivo, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin