CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE Good Practice 2: Tolerance in the land of Islam Algeria‘s approach to managing conflict is based on dialogue, negotiation and the establishment of the rule of law. Indeed, Algerian legislation privileges conciliation in the settlement of conflict, linking it to a rigorous policy for combating social precariousness and disintegration. This approach has predominated in the drafting and implementation of a national reconciliation policy, characterised by the following stages: adoption of the law on clemency (Rahma) in 1995; and adoption of the law on Civil Concord in 1999. The adoption of these Acts has allowed thousands of people who had taken up arms against their country to return to their homes and security, and to be restored throughout the national territory. In order to consolidate the peace and security process, the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation was put to a referendum on 29 September 2005, with a view to closing this painful chapter in Algeria‘s history, reuniting its people and ensuring the resolute construction of a prosperous and united future. Aware of the need to strengthen national unity and solidarity with respect for linguistic and cultural differences, Algeria has established the High Commission for the Amazighité and enshrined Tamazight as a national language under the Constitution. In addition, drawing on the lessons learnt from the country‘s national tragedy and the politicisation of religion, the Constitution has adopted Islam as the religion of the state, while safeguarding both the freedom and the protection of other cults and religions, including Christianity. The CRM observed that these decisions have in no way impacted on the freedom of religion in Algeria and took note of the tolerance that characterises Algerian society, its spirit of solidarity and the people‘s sense of belonging to a united nation. The CRM was able to visit the Basilica of St Augustine at Hippone (Annaba) where the international conference on the rehabilitation of St Augustine was inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The APR Panel, fully conscious of the fact that peace and civil concord are a prerequisite for development and social advancement, strongly supports national reconciliation and peace in Algeria. It strongly condemns any form of violence and any tendency to return to the dark days of terror. It therefore calls upon Algeria to launch vigorous action to strengthen, consolidate and entrench peace and civil concord in the country. 150. Conflicts associated with work. The General Union of Algerian Workers is pre-eminent in the area of labour issues. It made an important contribution to the adoption of the National Economic and Social Pact (PNES) on 1 October 2006, at the time of the tripartite meeting. The PNES focuses on 12 objectives related to improving the conditions of workers and represents a social, economic and cultural process. It is a “powerful means of regulation, a major factor in social peace and the reduction of imbalances and inequalities, especially within the context of the entry into effect of the Agreements of Association with the European Union and the next adherence to the WTO”. The PNES addresses important questions such as the revision of the Labour Code and discussion of section 87 on minimum wages. To the CRM, this 65