7. In 1990s, when the world was undergoing fundamental changes with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the redefinition of the global power relations, the OAU moved quickly to assess Africa’s place in the new environment and charted a course for itself, aimed at stemming its marginalisation and ensuring its continued strategic relevance and to address the challenges of development and of peace and security in the continent. The 1990 OAU Declaration on the Political and Socio-economic Situation in Africa and the Fundamental Changes taking place in the World underscored Africa’s resolve to seize the initiative, to determine its destiny and to address the challenge of peace. The consequent Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution that was established in 1993 was a practical expression of that determination to begin in earnest on the road to peace. 8. Through that Mechanism, the OAU has managed to implicate itself constructively in the many conflicts which have and continue to afflict the continent. The Mechanism has made a fundamental difference, not only in its political significance of our determination to strive for peace, but more so in the practical framework it has provided for the continent to address conflicts and conflict situations. Today, conflicts still persist but so does Africa’s determination and positive engagement in the search for peace. 9. The OAU has been on the vanguard in the promotion of the observance of human and people’s rights. The OAU Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Grand Bay Declaration and Plan of Action on Human Rights are among the instruments adopted by the Organization to promote human rights. Underlying these instruments is a determination to ensure that Africa responds to the challenge of observing, promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of Law. 7. The OAU has also responded to the yearning of the African people for greater political freedoms inherent in democratic government. To this effect, it was at the forefront in galvanizing governments around a new determination to progressively place the people at the centre of decision making. The Charter on Popular Participation adopted in 1990 was a testimony to this new determination. This was borne out of the realization that a permitting political environment engenders not only freedom but liberates human sprit and the creative genius of individuals. 8. Today, Africa is firmly on the road to democratisation. In our Algiers decision on unconstitutional changes of Government and