African Union 2.3. Cross-cutting Issues Cross-cutting issues are defined as those issues that recur in almost every area of governance and have to be tackled holistically due to the overall impact they have on several areas of governance. Some of the common cross-cutting issues identified in past reviews include: land, corruption; gender issues; implementation gaps and lack of capacity etc. Some of the cross-cutting issues are common among countries but some are specific to a particular country. Countries are therefore encouraged to isolate all cross-cutting issues that are relevant to their specific circumstances and analyse them comprehensively in a Chapter at the end of the CSAR. By including the most relevant cross-cutting issues in its development policies and strategies, the participating country is able to respond more effectively to particular circumstances. Taking account of cross-cutting issues helps participating countries and their development partners to: identify the key constraints affecting growth, poverty reduction, equity, opportunity, security and empowerment in a given country work with national stakeholders on measures to address these issues incorporate such measures into the domestic development strategy monitor the outcomes of a policy of integrating cross-cutting issues When domesticating the questionnaire, questions and indicators on selected cross-cutting issues should be built into every section/thematic area of the questionnaire. It is therefore suggested that countries ensure that all participating stakeholders are aware of these cross-cutting issues, as well as others that might be of special significance within the context of the country, and that they be invited to identify other cross-cutting issues they consider important from the perspective of the country. 2.4. Codes and Standards 2.4.1 For each standard and code, please indicate dates of signature, ratification and domestication as applicable. 2.4.2 Describe the approaches or methods that facilitated the domestication of the codes and standards ratified, such as: - enactment into domestic legislation - translation into national languages, organization of seminars and conferences on popularization and publication of regular reports on implementation of the standards and conventions, advocacy, teaching programmes ….); - creation of easily-accessible databases on the standards and codes signed, ratified and integrated for monitoring purposes; - existence of programmes aimed at disseminating the information on the standards and codes signed, ratified or integrated into the national system. 5