CHAPTER I DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE This chapter assesses the degree of implementation of international principles and norms as well as the progress achieved by the country in each of the nine (9) specific objectives of Democracy and Political Governance thematic area of the APRM National Programme of Action, namely: To prevent and reduce intra and interstate conflicts To promote constitutional democracy, including periodic political competition and opportunities for choice, the rule of Law, rights of citizens and supremacy of the Constitution To ensure promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural and political rights; To uphold the separation of powers including, independence of judiciary and of an effective Parliament; To ensure the accountability, efficiency and effectiveness public officeholders and civil servants; To fight corruption; To promote and protect the rights of women; To promote and protect the rights of children and youth; To promote and protect the Rights of vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, the poor, internally displaced persons and refugees. It ought to be referred that according to the APRM Basic Document the implementation of actions towards the operationalization of these objectives in the thematic area of Democracy and Political Governance contribute to the conflict resolutions, strengthening of the rule of Law and peace building. . Principles, Standards and Norms The APR Panel recommended that Mozambique should carry out a wide ranging assessment of the compatibility of legislation with international standards and norms and that it should include, among others, the following aspects: development of an action plan to resolve the existing conflicts between the Mozambican Laws and policies with the international standards and norms (i); Ratify outstanding international codes and standards and implement those already ratified by the Parliament (ii);Train the Judiciary and legal practitioners on the impact of international law on Mozambican law (iii); Create a depository for all international agreements to which Mozambique is a party (iv). 1. In compliance with the APR Panel recommendation on the pertinence of the country to develop an action plan in order to resolve the existing conflicts between the Mozambican Law and policies with the international standards and norms, the government institution 17