Final Communique of the 42nd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
14 November 2007
African Union, African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Commission), held its 42nd Ordinary Session in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from 14th to 28th November 2007.
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Commissioner Yassir Sid Ahmed El Hassan, former Vice-Chairperson of the African Commission, participated at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Session and spoke on behalf of the outgoing Chairperson of the African Commission, Madam Salamata Sawadogo.
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Commissioner Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, the newly elected Chairperson of the Commission, chaired the deliberations of the Session.
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The following Members also participated at the Session:
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Commissioner Angela Melo - Vice Chairperson;
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Commissioner Musa Ngary Bitaye;
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Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou;
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Commissioner Mumba Malila;
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Commissioner Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga;
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Commissioner Faith Pansy Tlakula;
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Commissioner Yeung K. J. Y. Sik Yuen
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Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki;
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Commissioner Kayitesi, Sylvie Zainabo
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Commissioner Soyata Maiga
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Twenty three (23) States Parties, four (4) National Human Rights Institutions, seven (7) International and Inter-Governmental Organisations and forty one (41) African and International NGOs were represented at the 42nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission. Five hundred and fifty seven (557) delegates altogether participated at the 42nd Ordinary Session.
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Several parallel activities were organized in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo to celebrate the African Commission's twenty years of existence and to take stock of its achievements. On the occasion of these celebrations it was noted that the human rights situation remains a matter of great concern in some African countries. The African Commission noted that in these past twenty years, the human rights violations continue to feed the internal armed conflicts in some Member States of the African Union. There is no doubt that the failure to respect the rights guaranteed under the African Charter is one of the major causes of internal conflicts in some Member States.
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As is customary, at the beginning of the Ordinary Session of the African Commission, the Session was preceded by the Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), organized by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, which was held from the 10th to 12th November 2007. The 54 interest groups within the NGO Forum examined the human rights situation in many countries in the African region, expressing concern over specific issues such as the situation of the rights of women and of human rights defenders on the Continent.
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On the general human rights situation, the NGO Forum lamented that after several years, human rights issues on the African Continent still remain critical. Underscoring the alarming human rights situation in many parts of the Continent, the Forum declared that Africa's development is plagued by ignorance, disease, poverty, hunger, unemployment, violent conflicts, the debt crisis, bad governance and corruption. Against this background, the Forum noted that the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the African Commission serves as a reminder that while we celebrate the Commission's coming of age, we should not forget that in many parts of the Continent, intolerance in all its forms has plunged millions of men, women and children into misery.
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The Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission also organised a series of activities prior to the 42nd Session, in particular:
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A Workshop on African Constitutions from 5 - 7 November 2007;
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A Joint Seminar with the African Commission to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, from 8-9 November 2007;
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A Workshop on the Observation of Elections in Africa, from 12-13 November 2007.
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