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| Hannah Foster, ACDHRS |
The Executive Director of the African Center for
Democracy and Human Rights Studies, ACDHRS, Mrs. Hannah Foster described the
human rights situation in Africa as precarious.
She said the recent coup in Mali and the continuing
unrest perpetrated by the Tuareg rebels, the unrest inflicted by the Boko Haram
sect in Nigeria, and the continuing repression of peaceful protests in Tunisia
demonstrates a lack of respect for human rights.
Non-governmentalorganisations (NGO) from within and outside Africa converged in Banjul, The
Gambia from April 14-16, 2012 to discuss the precarious human rights situation
in the continent.
While remembering victims of human rights violations
in Africa, Mrs. Foster implored on the Governments to practice what they preach
in order to consolidate the gains registered against impunity.
“The challenges are enormous,” she said, while
noting that victims of human rights violations in Africa are faced with
killings, torture, rape, arrests, detentions, enforced displacements etc.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the ACHPR,
H.E. Madam Catherine Dupe Atoki, the African Commission’s Commissioner for
Human Rights, Madam Soyata Maiga reaffirm that NGOs have been the conscience of
the people based on the role they play in society.
She notes that over 420 NGOs have been granted
observer status and their cooperation with the Commission will grow from
strength to strength. However, she warns that NGOs should remain committed to
serving the people.
According to her, the African continent is more
threatened than any other continent due to its “vulnerability to calamity.”
Commissioner Maiga also commends the existence and
nature of the NGOs Forum, which provides the much needed space for interactive
discussions on the state of human rights violations in Africa.
The NGOs Forum, which is preceding the 51st
Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, ACHPR,
is meant to provide a discussion platform to democracy and human rights NGOs in
Africa; to promote inter-regional networking for the implementation of
decisions of the Forum as contained in the ACHPR Communiqué; and foster closer
co-operation among NGOs, and with the African Commission.
On the sidelines of the Forum is the 25th
African Human Rights Book Fair, meant to enable NGOs network and renew the
exchange of materials and information, and publicize their activities.
According to the organisers, the ACDHRS, the Forum
deliberate generally on the human rights situation in Africa. It will bring to
the fore specific human rights situations to attract the attention of the
African Commission, the international community and Governments.
These include presentations and discussions on women
and property rights and intersection with HIV/AIDS; Drafting guidelines on
state obligations relating to women’s reproductive health and HIV; Freedom of
expression and access to information in Africa; Extractive industries and human
rights violations in Africa; and a variety of special interest groups’
discussions.
The participants ended the Forum on April 16, 2012
with Draft Resolutions and Recommendations adopt on the spot.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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