Death penalty violates fundamental human rights

Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie (Photo credit: ACHPR)

36 African countries maintain it in their laws

Capital punishment constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights, the Special Rapportuer on Death Penalty in Africa, Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie said on Saturday.

“The right to life under Article 4 of the African Charter and the right not to be subjected to any form of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment under Article 5 undoubtedly discourage capital punishment,” she stressed.

FROM COMMISSIONER SOYATA MAIGA’S DIARY

Commissioner Soyata Maiga (Photo credit: ACHPR)

Few positive developments on the protection of women’s rights in Africa 

Few positive developments have been recorded since last Session regarding the protection of women’s rights, Commissioner Soyata Maiga, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa said on Thursday.

Despite the intensive advocacy campaign conducted by the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur and the activities to combat gender-based violence organised by NGOs, little has been achieved. 

FROM COMMISSIONER MED S.K. KAGGWA’S DIARY

Commissioner Kaggwa (Photo credit: ACHPR)

Prisons in Africa are far below acceptable international standards

African prisons are far below acceptable international standards and those who are imprisoned still live in poor conditions, Commissioner Med S.K Kaggwa, the Special Rapportuer on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa said on Wednesday.

Kaggwa’s presentation on April 10 is part of the Activity Reports of Special Mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to which he is a member. The 53^rd Ordinary Session of the ACHPR is hosted by The Gambia from 9-23 April, 2013.

FROM COMMISSIONER PANSY TLAKULA’S DIARY

Adv. Pansy Tlakula (Photo credit: ACHPR)

State of free expression and access to information in Africa 

Commissioner Adv. Pansy Tlakula, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa tells the 53^rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission of her activities on April 11.

The ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is hosted by The Gambia from 9-23 April, 2013. Tlakula’s presentation is part of the Activity Reports of Special Mechanisms of the ACHPR to which she is a member.

Africa: 100s of minority groups in dire need of protection

 Ms. Rita Izsák, Independent Expert on Minority Issues (Photo credit: OCHR)

Hundreds of minority groups across Africa are in dire need of strengthened attention and protection, Rita Izsák, United Nations’ Independent Expert on Minority Issues warns on Thursday.

All African States and the international community must act urgently, she said at the 53^rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) hosted in Banjul, The Gambia from April 9-23, 2013. 
“The debate on who are the minorities and who are the indigenous peoples in Africa must not prevent stakeholders from addressing the extremely vulnerable situation of hundreds of minority communities across the continent,” Izsák said.

Sexual violence goes sky-high in Mogadishu

Walk a Mile-Sexual Violence Awareness-001 (Photo credit: pennstatenews)

AU begin campaign to popularise its ‘year of African shared values’

African Union Commission Chair Dr. Dlamini-Zuma (Photo credit: World Bank Photo Collection)

‘The Gambia will soon have a functional independent human rights commission’

A session of the ACHPR in Gambia, 2009 (Photo credit: Guillaume Colin & Pauline Penot)

The Gambia will soon be part of some African States that have a functional independent Human Rights Commission, the country’s Justice Minister Lamin Jobarteh said on Tuesday.

He hopes this process will be expedited as the government has commenced consultations on the establishment of a national Human Rights Commission with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat.