SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY MINDFUL of the need to involve the people of the Region centrally in the process of development and integration, particularly through the guarantee of democratic rights, observance of human rights and the rule of law; RECOGNISING that, in an increasingly interdependent world, mutual understanding, good neighbourliness, and meaningful co-operation among the countries of the Region are indispensable to the realisation of these ideals; DETERMINED to alleviate poverty, with the ultimate objective of its eradication, through deeper regional integration and sustainable economic growth and development; FURTHER DETERMINED to meet the challenges of globalization; TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos of April 1980, the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community and the Constitutive Act of the African Union; BEARING IN MIND the principles of international law governing relations between States; Have decided to establish an international organisation to be known as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and hereby agree as follows: CHAPTER ONE ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS In this Treaty, unless the context otherwise requires: “Community” means the organisation for economic integration established by Article 2 of this Treaty; “Council” means the Council of Ministers of SADC established by Article 9 of this Treaty; “Executive Secretary” means the Chief Executive Officer of SADC appointed under Article 10 (7) of this Treaty; “Funds” means resources available at any given time for application to programmes, projects and activities of SADC as provided by Article 26 of this Treaty; “High Contracting Parties” means States, herein represented by Heads of State or Government or their duly authorised representatives for purposes of the establishment of the Community; “Member State” means a member of SADC; Consolidated text of the Treaty of the Southern African Development Community, as Amended -2-