ACHPR Postpone 56th Ordinary Session

Rights groups at an April 2011 NGOs Forum in Banjul, The Gambia, two days before the 49th Ordinary Session (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES)

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, ACHPR, has said it postpones its 56^th Ordinary Session that was scheduled from December 1-17, 2014.

On Monday, Commission, the AU’s human rights body, said in an email new dates for the Session will be communicated in due course.

The Ordinary Session is preceded by NGOs Forums (slated for November 28-30, 2014) usually organised by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, ACDHRS. That too has been postponed, according to the Commission. 

No reasons have been advanced. But, according to TNBES research, several international events in which people from Ebola-affected countries are involved have been put on hold.

The deadly outbreak of the Ebola disease began in Guinea in February 2014, spreading to Liberia and Sierra Leone (the worst affected countries). It has since spread to countries like Nigeria, Senegal and Mali with a lesser number of infections and deaths.

52nd Ordinary Session, Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire/PHOTO:ACHPR

Also, the African Commission has come under intense pressure from several human rights groups for it to relocate from The Gambia, where campaigners alleged “rights abuses are carried with impunity.”

More than 40 human rights NGOs that boycotted the 53rd Session have also supported calls for ACHPR Session to be held away from the tiny West African country.

Written by Modou S. Joof

 

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