Assembly/AU/ Decl.1(XVI) Page 2 respect for the sanctity of human life and international humanitarian law, as part of efforts for the prevention of conflicts; Convinced that the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) constitute the building blocks in the development and promotion of an effective continental agenda for integration, based on Shared Values; Mindful that the Continent still faces many challenges in promoting, ratifying and domesticating instruments of Shared Values and recognising that there are a number of obstacles that need to be overcome in furtherance of the Shared Values. Hereby declare as follows: 1. We commit ourselves to enhancing efforts aimed at reinforcing a deeper understanding of Shared Values and their promotion and popularisation amongst the African peoples as a means of shaping Africa’s common future and mobilising the African peoples towards achieving the shared vision of continental integration and unity. 2. We reaffirm our commitment to speeding up the ratification and domestication of instruments of Shared Values and call upon the African Union Commission (AUC) to put in place measures and modalities to support Member States to establish the required capacities and processes for monitoring and review of domestication efforts. 3. We affirm the need for the consolidation and full implementation of the instruments of Shared Values, including the African Peer-Review Mechanism (APRM) and relevant National Plans, as a catalyst for unity, policy harmonisation, convergence and integration on the Continent. 4. We encourage the African Union Commission to ensure greater synergy between peace and security matters and governance and democracy, thereby ensuring that developments in the terrain of shared values feature prominently in the Peace and Security Council. 5. We further commit ourselves to promoting the role of women in socio-economic life and prioritise the participation of women in governance and democracy and secure their direct involvement in decision-making in line with the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) and the Declaration on the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020). 6. We urge the youth to participate fully in governance and democracy processes, as per the provisions of the African Youth Charter and request that efforts be put in place to establish an annual Youth Parliament at the continental level.