V Africa
| Author | Rachel Murray |
| Published date | 01 June 2000 |
| Date | 01 June 2000 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/092405190001800209 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
NQHR
2/2000
V
AFRICA
Rachel Murray
A.
The
African Commission on
Human
and
Peoples' Rights
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights held its 26th session in Kigali,
Rwanda, 1-15 November 1999.' Prior to the session the 13th Workshop on NGO
participation in the work
of
the African Commission was held by the International
Commission
of
Jurists. A number
of
conclusions were reached and resolutions were
adopted on the Human Rights Situation in Africa, Recommended Strategies for the
Improvement
of
the Working Methods
of
the African Commission on Human and Peoples'
Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Kenya, Human Rights
of
Migrants in
Africa, and on the World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and
Related Forms
of
Intolerance.'
At the 26th session the appointment
of
new Commissioners was welcomed' and the
Commission appointed Professor Dankwa as Chair, and Mme Julienne Ondziel-Gnelenga
as Vice-Chair from among its members.
The Commission heard statements by various delegations from States and also from
NGOs on the human rights situation in African countries.
Of
particularly concern was the
dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Commission also heard from representatives
of
national human rights institutions and it was noted that a system needed to be considered
for dealing with applications from such institutions for affiliated status with the
Commission. Agroup
of
Commissioners was appointed to consider the matter. The
Commission granted observer status to one NGO, and rejected that
of
another.
It was suggested that the Commission, under the authority
of
its Special Rapporteur on
Summary, Arbitrary and Extrajudicial Executions, NGGs and States work together on
drafting astatement relating to the moratorium on the death penalty.
The Kigali Protocol on Women's Rights was adopted by the Commission." This will
now be presented to the GAD for consideration. The Special Rapporteur on Women's
Rights had intervened on behalf
of
some individuals and had visited Liberia. During the
latter course
of
1999 the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions
of
Detention had
visited the Gambia and Benin. The Special Rapporteur on Summary, Arbitrary and
Extrajudicial Executions was considering missions to Chad and Rwanda. Another
Commissioner had visited Lesotho as part
of
his promotional mandate during June 1999
and reported on this to the Commission at its 26 th session.' His report contained a list
of
recommendations to the Commission including the need to provide training for States in
preparation
of
their Article 62 reports: seminars on elections and encouraging Lesotho
NGGs to obtain observer status with the Commission.
Final Communique of the 26"' Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights,
ACHPRIFIN.COMM/XXVI.
13th ICJ Workshop on Participation in the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, organised
by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in collaboration with the African Commission on Human
and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), 28-30 October 1999, Kigali, Rwanda, Report.
See NQHR, Vol. 17,
No.4,
1999.
Kigali Draft Protocol on Women's Rights (as reviewed and amended by the Commissioners), November 1999
(no reference).
Report
of
Mission to Lesotho, Commissioner Barney N Pityana, DOC/OS(XXVI)/121a.
280
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