The United States (U.S), through the U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided more than $292 million towards the promotion of human rights, rule of law and good governance in Africa in 2012.
The areas of support included assisting Civil Society and Independent Media, promoting Credible Elections and Democratic Processes, consolidating the Rule of Law and Protecting Human Rights, partnering to Promote Open Government and Transparency and leveraging Technology to Revolutionize Governance and Civic Participation
A press statement from the White House made available to the Ghana News Agency by the U.S. Embassy in Accra, said the United States strongly supports the great strides many African countries have made to ensure good governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights.
�We commend the progress they have made to broaden political participation and improve governance, and will remain a steady partner as they continue to work to strengthen electoral processes, ensure transparency and accountability in government, and provide security while respecting and protecting universal rights and fundamental freedoms�, the statement said..
It noted that civil society and independent media play a critical role in any vibrant democracy, and that across sub-Saharan Africa, the United States supports efforts to ensure civil society organizations and independent media could organize, advocate, and raise awareness with governments and the private sector to improve political processes, transparency, and government performance.
The statement further observed that elections provide citizens with the opportunity to build strong, peaceful democratic systems and give citizens a stake in the future of their countries. It, therefore, reaffirmed the support of the United States for efforts across the continent to promote credible, transparent and effective democratic processes through civic and voter education; building the capacity of African election commissions; strengthening political parties; training and supporting election observers; and facilitating the inclusion of women, youth, and people with disabilities.
On the rule of law, it observed that although many countries in Africa had made significant progress in that area, much work remained to be accomplished. �In some parts of the continent weak, ineffective, and partisan judiciaries contribute to � or fail to provide justice in the face of � a range of societal scourges, including gender-based violence, organized crime, impunity and corruption, labor abuses, and human and narcotics trafficking�, the statement said, adding that the United States would continue to support efforts to improve the ability of governments to strengthen the rule of law, particularly in transitional and fragile states.
It further reiterated the United States� committed to promoting open and accountable governance in Africa and around the world by working to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies.
The statement cited the creation of a 45-million-dollar fund by the United States in collaboration with Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Omidyar Network Making to support innovation and research to harness and disseminate new technologies to enable more citizen engagement and government responsiveness.
� The United States continues to expand support for cutting-edge technological innovations that improve government performance and accountability, open new frontiers for advocacy and civic engagement, and link Africa�s tech-savvy citizens and leaders across the continent�, it declared.
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