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 raises concerns over state parties’ reprisals against human rights defenders

Human Rights Defenders at the Forum on the Participation of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the 49th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR and the 23rd African Human Rights Book Fair in Banjul from April 25-27, 2011 (Photo Credit: M.S. Joof/TNBES)

GMC oppose calls to relocate African Commission

GMC leader Mai Ahmad Fatty

The opposition party, the Gambia Moral Congress, has put up a strong disagreement to the call by the Civil Society Forum of African NGOs “to relocate the Banjul-based African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) from The Gambia to another AU member state.” 

GMC believes that removal of the African Commission from The Gambia does not provide effective and durable approach to the “endemic problem” of mal-governance in Africa, the party’s leader Mai Ahmad Fatty, said.

“It provides no guarantee or safeguard against the possibility of grievous rights violations by a future government in the next country to host the Commission, if The Gambia were to lose it,” argues Mr. Fatty.

Campaign to strip Gambia of ‘human rights title’ intensifies

52nd Ordinary Session: 9th - 22nd October 2012. Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire/PHOTO:ACHPR

Human rights NGOs gathering in the Cote d’Ivoire city of Yamoussoukro, to participate in the 25^th anniversary and 52^nd Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), have intensified calls for Gambia to be stripped of its title: “Human Rights Capital of Africa”. 

The Gambia is regarded as such because it hosts the ACHPR, however, in an October 6, 2012 resolution on Gambia, rights defenders said: “The Gambia Government is best known for its contempt of the principles of human rights; and its continued acts of rights abuse calls for it to be stripped of the privilege of hosting a Pan African Organ.”

Growing concern over precarious state of sub-Saharan migrants

A temporary shelter set up by migrants recently expelled from Morocco, PIX: MSF

Growing concerns over the precarious state of migrants in sub-Saharan Africa have been raised once again by the multinational network against violation of migrants’ rights, Justice Without Borders for Migrants/Justice sans frontiers pour les migrants et migrantes (JWBM/JSFM).

This followed recent mass-expulsion of migrants from Mauritania to Senegal and Mali, and from Morocco to Algeria, coupled with recent massive displacement fueled by the Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali.

Working Group On Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants And Displaced Persons

PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO THE NGO FORUM FOR ADOPTION ON THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, MIGRANTS AND DISPLACED PERSONS

A temporary shelter set up by migrants recently expelled from Morocco, PIX: MSF

Belhassen laments ‘pitiable’ ratification of African Charter on Democracy…

….Highlight precarious human rights situation in Africa

Ms. Souhayr Belhasse, FIDH President

The President of the International Federation ofHuman Rights, FIDH, Ms. Souhayr Belhassen on Saturday lament the pitiable pace at which governments are ratifying the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Only 15 countries ratified the Charter which was adopted by the 8^th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2007.

Ms. Belhassen was presenting a paper on an overview of the situation of human rights and democracy in Africa at the opening of the NGOsForum (April 14-16, 2012), preceding the 51^st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, ACHPR in Banjul.

Human rights defenders resolve religious differences

Hannah Foster, Executive Director ACDHRS

To open or not to open with prayers, the NGOs Forum in Banjul was a heated debate in November last year, with arguments from both those in support and against the subject greeted by raucous applause.

This year, during the opening of NGOs Forum in the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Center on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the 23^rd African Human Rights Book Fair, in Banjul on April 25, Hannah Foster suggested the participants pray in their own way, irrespective of whatever religion they belong.

The change followed an advice she received after last year’s disapproval of using Islamic and Christianity prayers to open the forum.

Senegal on thrives in child, women and disabled rights

Senegal's Coumba Gaye

Senegal’s Deputy Minister in charge of Human Rights Madam Coumba Gaye has said her country has made major developments in the promotion and protection of the rights of children, women and the disabled.

Gaye, Senegal’s State Delegate to the recently concluded 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia was speaking on May 12, 2011.

She pointed out that the strengthening of the institutional mechanism on childhood protection followed the creation of a national unit to combat child trafficking through an October 8, 2010 order from the Prime Minister of Senegal.

Torture leaves tens of thousands heavily traumatized

The use of torture leaves tens, even hundreds of thousands of victims heavily traumatized with severe and long lasting mental and physical injuries, and destroys families and entire communities, Cameroon’s Mr. Basil Tifu Ajuo said.

Mr. Ajuo was presenting a paper on “The Prevention of Torture in Africa” during the recently concluded 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia.

On behalf of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Mr. Ajuo said it is their observation that torture remains a pressing issue of grave human rights violations in Africa, despite the absolute prohibition.

Crimes against African journalists remain unpunished

FAJ workshop Addis Ababa, Sept. 2-3. 2010

The President of the Federation of African Journalists, FAJ Omar Faruk Osman has exhorted Members States of African Commission to make the safety and protection of African journalists a top priority, especially in armed conflicts.

Faruk, the representative of Eastern Africa Journalist Association (EAJA) was presenting a paper on the “safety and protection of African Journalists” at the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul on May 6, 2011.

Protection of human rights no longer a ‘half-hearted’ business

Pix by AfCHPR

The Vice President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Honorable Justice Sophia A.B Akuffo has said that the success of the Court as a human rights protection mechanism would require a 100 percent ratification of the Protocol by Member States.

Speaking at the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right in Banjul, The Gambia, he said this will require their acceptance of the competence of the Court by making the Declaration under Article 34(6).

Zimbabwe State-delegate responds to criticisms by HURISA

President Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s Madam D. Mangota, secretary for justice and legal affairs has responded to

Human rights violations raised by the Human Rights Institute of Southern Africa, HURISA at the recently concluded NGOs Forum in Banjul April 25-27, 2011.

Speaking at the on-going two-week 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, ACHPR in Banjul, which started on April 28, she said issues of arbitrary arrest, political violence, and selective application of the law are issues that have been raised in previous sessions.

With specific mention of the arrest of Gwisai, Lewanika and Chikomo amongst others, she said these people were arrested for contravening Zimbabwe’s Laws. “In respect of Gwisai and 45 others, these people were taking before a Magistrate, who, after hearing evidence, ruled that the 39 should be set free and the remaining six should stand trial,” she explained.

AFRICA: What ‘virus’ is turning elections into violence

The Author, Modou S. Joof

Of late, elections in Africa have been plagued by violence before, during and after the conduct of the polls, a glaring case is the Nigerian post-presidential elections violence, the latest on the continent, for which at least 500 people are reported to have died, thousands injured and others displaced.

The Voice Newspaper’s News Editor examines exactly what must have led to a seemingly contagious trend of crisis born-out of a democratic process that should have served as a yardstick to determine the will of the electorate in any democratic setup.

The lack of a political will by African States to ratify and accelerate the entry into force, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance could be said to be one of the major issues that contribute to violent elections.

Enforced disappearances in Namibia are politically motivated

Madam Pauline Dempers of Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWL), a southern Africa human rights institution, said enforced disappearances in Namibia are in most cases politically motivated.

Madam Dampers was presenting a paper during a panel discussion on “Enforced Disappearances in Africa” at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), in Banjul last week.

Post Election Violence in Nigeria, lesson for Gambia, Africa

African States, including The Gambia should draw lessons from the post election violence in Nigeria and in other parts of the continent and ensure that such unfortunate incident does not repeat itself, Rights Activist Leo Igwe has said.

Igwe, the representative of the International Humanist Ethical Union (IHEU), was presenting a paper on “Post Elections Violence” at the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, in Banjul on May 2, 2011.

ELECTIONS AND STABILITY IN AFRICA

Forum on the participation of INGOs in the 49^th ordinary session of the African commission on human and people rights and 23^rd African human rights book fair

                                                       25-27 April, 2011

                                                      Banjul, the Gambia

                                        

Chair of the panel, panelists, fellow Africans and friends of Africa,

                                              

It is a great opportunity and a pleasure for me to have this chance to share with you discussions on elections and stability in our continent African. I will share with you my experiences and opinions as African domestic elections observer in my country Sudan which had two electoral processes of 

•         Political legislative and executive elections April 2010 and

•         Political referendum on self-determination for the south Sudanese population from the rest of Sudan 9^th July 2010   

Gambia continue learning to promote human rights

Edu Gomez

Justice Minister Edward Gomez has told human rights defenders that the peaceful co-existence of all religious domination and faiths without any persecution by Government is a clear testimony in promoting and upholding religious freedom.

However, he said as a developing nation, The Gambia is ready to learn its difficulties and challenges in promoting human rights, while stating that “we are also firm in our desire and commitment to keep the peace and stability were are known to have enjoy”.

Mr. Gomez’s stance was relayed through the Curator Interstate Estate at the Ministry of Justice Mrs. Isatou Graham, at the opening of the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and people’s Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul on April 28, 2011. 

Lack of impartial electoral systems has made election a growing source of conflict in Africa

The Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies Madam Hannah Forster has stressed for the need for African States to ratify and accelerate the entry into force the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance.

This, according to her, is because the lack of “Independence” of the electoral system has made elections a growing source of conflict in Africa.

Madam Forster was speaking on behalf of the Non-Governmental Organisation Steering Committee, at the opening of the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul, on April 28, 2011.

Elections breeding human rights violations in the East

Hassan Shire

Over the last six months, the human rights situation in the East and the Horn of Africa has continued to be closely linked to the conduct of national elections, with journalists particularly at the receiving end.

In an update on the human rights situation in the region during the Forum on the Participation of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), Mr. Hassan Shire Sheikh said restrictions on civil and political rights identifies in this period ranged from the development and implementation of restrictive laws – to direct attacks on human rights defenders, including physical and verbal threats, legal and judicial harassment, increased surveillance, and targeted killings.