IV Africa
| Author | Rachel Murray |
| Date | 01 December 2005 |
| DOI | 10.1177/016934410502300408 |
| Published date | 01 December 2005 |
| Subject Matter | Part B: Human Rights News |
656
IV AFRICA
RACHEL MURRAY
1. AU SUMMIT JULY 2005
The Seventh Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and Fifth Ordinary Session
of the Assembly of the AU took place from 1-2 July and 4-5 July 2005 respectively. A
number of decisions and declarations were adopted. These included a Decision on
Chairperson’s Progress Report on the Implementation of the Solemn Declaration
on Gender Equality in Africa
1
which commended countries that had submitted
reports on progress made in mainstreaming gender and issues in the Declaration
and appealed to other States to take a number of actions to ensure
gender mainstreaming. It asked the Chairperson of the Commission to look at
revamping the Pan African Women’s Organization.
In its Decision on the Situation of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons,
2
the Executive Council noted ‘gross and systematic violations of human rights and
international humanitarian law are among the principal factors generating refugee
flows in Africa’, in particular drawing attention to vulnerable groups such as women,
children and the disabled. It commended States ‘that continue to ensure that social
and economic rights of refugees are respected in particular through innovative local
integration initiatives’, citing Zambia in particular and urged States and other
organisations to contribute to the AU’s Special Refugee Contingency Fund. The
Coordinating Committee on Assistance and Protection to Refugees and Internally
Displaced Persons had now been revitalised.
3
A Ministerial Conference on Refugees
was planned for June 2006 in Burkina Faso.
The AU Summit also elected four new members to the African Commission on
Human and Peoples’ Rights. These were: Mrs Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin, Mr
Musa Ngary Bitaye from The Gambia, Adv. Faith Pansy Tlakula from South Africa
and Mr Mumba Malila from Zambia.
4
New members were also appointed to the African Committee on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child. These were: Ms Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate of Senegal, Mrs
Koffi Appoh Marie-Chantal of Cote d’Ivoire, Hon. Lady Justice Martha Koome from
Kenya, Mrs Mamosebi T Pholo from Lesotho, Ms Boipelo Lucia Seitlhano of
Botswana, and Mr Moussa Sissoko from Mali.
5
The Executive Council also adopted a
Decision on the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the
1
Doc. EX.CL/Draft/Dec.192 (VII).
2
Doc. EX.CL/Dec.197(VII).
3
This body had existed under the OAU.
4
Decision on the Appointment of Members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights (Doc. EX.CL/201(VII)), Assembly/AU/Dec.84 (V); Decision on the Election of Members of
the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Doc. EX.CL/201 (VII)).
5
Decision on the Appointment of Members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child (Doc. EX.CL/202 (VII)), Assembly/AU/Dec.85 (V); Decision on the Election
of Members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Docs
EX.CL/202 (VII), EX.CL/Dec.232 (VII)).
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