Recognizing the progress ' achieved by African States in the domain of Human Rights and the significant contribution of the African Continent to the universalization of these rights; Further Recognizing the contribution made by African NG0s to the promotion and protection of Human Rights in Africa; Recalling the recommendations made by the Second Conference of National Human Rights Institutions held in Durban in 1998; Determined to consolidate the gains made in Africa in the promotion and protection of Human and Peoples' Rights; SOLEMNLY ADOPTS THE GRAND BAY (MAURITIUS) DECLARATION AND PLAN OF ACTION 1. The Ministerial Conference affirms the principle that Human Rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and inter related and urges governments, in their policies, to give parity to economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights; 2. The Conference also affirms that the right to development, the right to agenerally satisfactory healthy environment and the right to national and international peace and security are universal and inalienable rights which form an integral part of fundamental Human Rights; 3. The Conference further affirms the interdependence of the principles of good governance, the Rule of Law, democracy and development. 4. The Conference recognizes that the development of the rule of law, democracy and Human Rights calls for an independent, open, accessible and impartial judiciary, which can deliver justice promptly and at an affordable cost. To this end, such a system requires a body of professional and competent judges enjoying conducive conditions. 5. The Conference recognises that the core Values on which Human Rights are founded, particularly a. respect for the sanctity of life and human dignity b. tolerance of differences c. desire for liberty, order, fairness, prosperity and stability, are shared across all cultures. In this connection, integrating positive traditional and cultural values of Africa into the Human Rights debate will be useful in ensuring their transmission to future generations. 6. The Conference notes that Women and Children's rights issues remain of concern to all. Therefore it welcomes the decision to elaborate a Protocol to the African Charter for the more effective protection of Women's rights and calls on the OAU to convene a meeting of Government experts to examine the instrument. It urges all African States to work assiduously towards the elimination of discrimination against women and the abolition of cultural practices which dehumanize or demean women and children. The Conference also recommends to States to take the necessary measures to stop the practice of child soldiers and to reinforce the protection of civilian populations, particularly children in conflict situations. The Conference further recommends that States adopt measures to eradicate violence against women and children, child labour, sexual exploitation of children, trafficking in children and to protect children in conflict with the law as well as refugee children. 7. The Conference notes that the rights of people with disability and people living with HIV AIDS, in particular women and children are not always observed and urges all African States to work towards ensuring the full respect of these rights.