2. 3. What the APRM does about attacks on democracy and governance Enhancing state effectiveness in each country is also a matter of collective importance to the continent. More so than any other issue, it should be the subject of discussion and mutual support at the APR Forum. Enhancing the effectiveness of the continent‘s civil services is also a matter that could benefit from long-term, consistent cooperation among countries. The APRM needs to include, in its list of relevant standards and codes, the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration. Considering that the Charter has just entered into force with 16 ratifications, the APRM may consider launching a campaign to encourage more countries to ratify the Charter as part of its sensitisation efforts to enhance the development of a responsive civil service on the Continent. This issue is central to the APRM. The DPG thematic area of the APRM is particularly relevant here. The first Objective under this thematic area relates to ―entrenching constitutional democracy and the rule of law‖, which is supplemented by a series of highly pertinent questions:    Question 1: ‗Does the political system as practiced in your country allow for free and fair competition for power and the promotion of democratic governance?‘ Question 2: ‗What weight do provisions establishing the rule of law and the supremacy of the constitution carry in practice?‘ Question 3: ‗To what extent does the Executive respect the rule of law?‘ Democratic governance, constitutionalism and the rule of law are repeatedly referenced in the standards, as is shown in the list below. Bottleneck 11: Attacks on democracy and governance  Concept  One of the more profound changes in Africa since the 1990s has been the holding of elections as a means of choosing governments. Encouraging democracy was intrinsic to the NEPAD initiative. Democratisation is seen as vitally important; as President Museveni remarks, without it, ‗people‘s real aspirations and grievances could not be accurately captured‘. Democratisation is indeed a critical marker of the continent‘s determination to deal with its governance problems. Above all, democratisation signifies the African becoming a citizen rather than a subject, capable of taking charge of his or her own destinies rather than having them dictated to by those in power. But, President Museveni has a broader perspective of democracy than the holding of periodic elections. Important as they are, elections are not enough in themselves; he observed that ―good governance should reflect having such development imperatives like electricity for all, paved roads and railway networks in contrast to the narrow perspective that limits it to having elections.‖ Considering that many of the issues covered in this broader understanding of democracy and good governance have been dealt with under other bottlenecks (e.g. infrastructure, services, etc.), this section will focus mainly on democracy as understood in the narrower sense of good political governance. This section is related to Bottlenecks no. 1 (ideological disorientation) and no. 10 (non-responsive civil service).            55 OAU, Declaration on the Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government (2000, Lomé, Togo) OAU, The New Partnership for Africa‘s Development (NEPAD) (2001) OAU, Memorandum of Understanding, Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Co-operation in Africa (2002, Durban, South Africa) OAU, Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa (2002, Durban, South Africa) AU, AU Constitutive Act (2000, Lomé, Togo) AU, NEPAD Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance (2002, Durban, South Africa) AU, Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (2002, Durban, South Africa) AU, Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003, Maputo, Mozambique) International Conference on Popular Participation in the Recovery and Development Process in Africa, African Charter for Popular Participation in Development and Transformation (February 1990, Arusha, Tanzania) UN, UN Charter (1945, San Francisco, USA) UN, Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1952, New York, USA) UN, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965, New York, USA) UN, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966, New York, USA)