South Sudan: Rights Body Says Can't Consider Communications Against African Country

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July, 2011 but internal fighting is standing in the way of the country's progress and brought about widespread human rights abuses, according to agencies. (Photo taken from BBC)

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)

The Gambia criticised for toughening law on false information

President of The Gambia Yahya Jammeh, is often criticised of rights violations by human rights defenders (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Gambia has criticised for the amendment of sections of Criminal Code Act that empowers the Courts to give harsher punishments to persons found guilty of giving false information to public officials.

On April 16, 2013, the tiny West African country’s National Assembly amended Section 114 of the Criminal Code which imposes a jail term of five years or a fine of D50, 000 (about USD1, 650) on persons convicted of giving false information.

The law previously allowed a jail term of not more than six months or a fine of D500 (about USD17) or both.

The Gambia Press Union is yet to issue a statement on the new law, but in a facebook update, its executive director, Gibairu Janneh lament: “It is a pity that whilst modern political trends demand accountability in governance through an independent, vibrant and pluralistic media, The Gambia is tightening the screws on its already muzzled press.”

“The Gambia today needs media law reform so as to enhance good governance, democracy and development and not using the law to suppress dissent,” Janneh wrote.

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.”

ARTICLE 19 UPDATE

Oral statement to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Madam Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Honourable Members of the Commission, Distinguished Representatives of States Parties, Dear Colleagues Human Rights Defenders, Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocols observed.

It is an honour for ARTICLE 19 to address you during this 51st Ordinary Session of the African Commission.

We would first of all like to congratulate you for the tireless efforts your Commission has been making in promoting and protecting human rights on the African continent. 

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.

Mahajaub defends Libya’s human rights record

Embattled Libyan Leader Gaddafi

The Libyan State delegate to the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), in Banjul Prof. Abdullah Mahajaub has told human rights defenders that Libya has sacrificed a lot to unite Africa.

Prof. Mahajaub, who was responding to comments made by ACHPR Commissioners on the crisis in Libya on May 4, 2011, said his government has been providing assistance to persons with disabilities, with an allocation of monthly stipend, free medication, free education and they are part and parcel of decision making processes.

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.

Speaker Hon. Bojang exhorts for a binding mandate for the African Commission

Parliament Speaker, Hon Bojang

The Speaker of the National Assembly in Banjul Hon Abdoulie Bojang has said that Human Rights Defenders are yet to provide effective remedy to all the many alleged human rights violations taking across the African Continent.

This, he said is due to a host of reasons, notable among them, is the need to revisit the Protocol that establishes the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), to enable it move from its current status of advisory, consultative and persuasive mandate, to a more robust, proactive and binding mandate.

Hon Bojang was speaking at the opening of the Forum on the Participation of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the 49^th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR and the 23^rd African Human Rights Book Fair in Banjul from April 25-27, 2011. The Forum is organised by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) in collaboration with the ACHPR and other human rights organizations.

Gambia is not free from criticism, says Abdoul Gadiry Diallo

The NGOs Forum

The Coordinator of the West African Human Rights Network Mr. Abdoul Gadiry Diallo has said that The Gambia, which is the host of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), is not free from criticism when it comes to human rights violations.

Mr. Diallo was presenting a paper on an “Update on the Human Rights Situation in West Africa” at the Forum on the Participation of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the 49^th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR and the 23^rd African Human Rights Book Fair in Banjul from April 25-27, 2011. The Forum is organised by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) in collaboration with the ACHPR and other human rights organizations.