Gambia Justice Minister, Edward Gomez |
“One
cannot continue to oppress people and set aside their rights. Human rights are
inviolable and sacrosanct. They should always be upheld and defended by
governments, their agents and judicial systems,” said Mr. Edward Gomez, Gambia’s
Minister of Justice.
The justice-minister, who recently came under attack by press freedom watchdogs for comments
he made over the whereabouts of missing journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, was
addressing participants on Wednesday at the opening session of the Forum on the Participation of
Non-Governmental Organisations in the 50th Ordinary Session of the
African Commission on Human and People’s Rights which was held from 19th
to 21st October, 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia.
The
forum, held under the theme “30th
Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights” hear
updates on regional human rights situations from the five African regions:
Southern, West, North, East and Central. It also discusses the progress and
challenges experienced during the 30 year existence of the Charter.
Other
topics covered include the challenges of forced eviction and the violation of
the right of slum dwellers, freedom of association over the past 30 years,
freedom of expression and protection of journalists, sexual orientation and
gender identity, death penalty in Africa, indegenous populations and
communities in Africa, and prisons and conditions of detention in Africa.
The
Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, Mrs Rene
Alapina Gansou recalled the many challenges still facing implementation of the
African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, despite the progress made in the
thirty years since its adoption.
She
specifically referred to the continued existence of the death penalty in many
African Union Member States and challenged the civil society organisations to
work together with the ACHPR to fully and effectively implement the Charter.
The
ACHPR is an organ of the African Union, charged with ensuring the promotion and
protection of human and peoples’ rights throughout Africa.
In the organisation of the NGO forum, it is working closely with the Banjul-bases African Center
for Democracy and Human Rights and Studies (ACDHRS), which was represented at
the forum by its Chairperson Mr Andrew Chigovera, a former Commissioner of the
ACHPR. The African Union Commission was represented by the Department of Political
Affairs.
Civil
society groups, journalists and individuals from Africa
and internationally attended the meeting.
On
Thursday 20th October 2011, the Consultation on the implementation
and monitoring of the Human Rights Strategy for Africa (HRSA) also opened in Banjul.
Author: Modou S. Joof for The Voice newspaper
See related post:
http://thenorthbankeveningstandard.blogspot.com/2011/10/faj-urges-govt-to-end-silence-over.html
See related post:
http://thenorthbankeveningstandard.blogspot.com/2011/10/faj-urges-govt-to-end-silence-over.html
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