Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action, 1999 GRAND BAY (MAURITIUS) DECLARATION AND PLAN OF ACTION The First OAU Ministerial Conference on Human Rights, meeting from 12 to 16 April, 1999 in Grand Bay, Mauritius; Considering that the promotion and protection of Human Rights is a matter of priority for Africa, and that the Conference provides a unique opportunity to carry out a comprehensive analysis and reflection on the mechanisms for the protection of Human Rights to guarantee Human Rights for accelerated development of the Continent; Recalling the Declaration on the Political and Socio Economic Situation in Africa and the Fundamental Changes Taking Place in the World adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU in 1990, as well as the Declaration establishing within the OAU, a Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolutionadopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU in Cairo (Egypt) in June 1993; Acknowledging that observance of human rights is a key tool for promoting collective security, durable peace and sustainable development as enunciated in the Cairo Agenda for Action on relaunching Africa's socio economic formation adopted by the extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers held in Cairo, Egypt, from 25 to 28 March, 1995; Taking Note of the growing recognition that violations of human rights may constitute a burden for the international community; Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles contained in the OAU Charter, UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; Deeply Concerned by acts of genocide and other crimes against humanity perpetuated in certain parts of Africa; Emphasizing that respect for Human Rights is indispensable for the maintenance of regional and international peace and security and elimination of conflicts, and that it constitutes one of the fundamental bedrocks on which development efforts should be realized. Considering the democratization processes taking place on the Continent and the expressed desires of African peoples to live in a state of law which secures the full enjoyment of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms for all peoples, regardless of their gender, race, place of origin, religion, social status, ethnic background, political opinions or language; Further Considering the importance of the right to development, the right to international peace and security and the principles of solidarity and Friendly relations between States provided for in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; Recalling the determination of the collective leadership in Africa to establish conditions which will ensure social justice and progress and thus enable African peoples to enjoy better standards of living in greater freedom and in the spirit of tolerance towards all; Reiterating the need to constructively examine Human Rights issues in a spirit of justice, impartiality and non selectivity, avoiding their use for political purposes;