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)

ACHPR’s Atoki talks about ending human rights problem in Africa

Mrs Atoki claims Africans are now determined to take their destiny into their own hands (Photo credit: Falka)

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

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

Human rights are inviolable and sacrosanct – says Gambia Justice Minister

Gambia Justice Minister, Edward Gomez

“One cannot continue to oppress people and set aside their rights. Human rights are inviolable and sacrosanct. They should always be upheld and defended by governments, their agents and judicial systems,” said Mr. Edward Gomez, Gambia’s Minister of Justice.

The justice-minister, who recently came under attack by press freedom watchdogs for comments he made over the whereabouts of missing journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, was addressing participants on Wednesday at the opening session of the Forum on the Participation of Non-Governmental Organisations in the 50^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights which was held from 19^th to 21^st October, 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia.

Experts meet in Banjul to chart on implementation of the human rights strategy for Africa

The African Union (AU) on Friday kick started a three day consultation workshop in Banjul, focusing on how to implement and monitor the Human Rights Strategy for Africa (HRSA).

It is part of efforts to strengthen the African human rights system, to deepen the culture of democracy and to ensure the promotion of human rights on the continent. The experts are expected to develop a roadmap for the implementation of the action plan of the HRSA.

 The meeting is being attended by representatives from AU organs with a human rights mandate, regional courts and tribunals, national human rights institutions (NHRI), partners and civil society.

AU Summit to discus youth empowerment for sustainable development

President Obiang - E. Guinea and AU President

The 17th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is scheduled to take place from 23 June to 1st July 2011 in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, under the theme: “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”.
The 17th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on Thursday 23 June 2011, with the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), according to the African Union Commission, the AUC on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Ambassadors who form the PRC have already started deliberating the agenda of the Summit at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In Malabo, the Ambassadors of the AU Member States meeting at their 22nd Ordinary Session, will for two days (23-24 June 2011) share views on a number of issues including: Consideration of the report of the PRC sub-committees such as the report of the advisory sub-Committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters on the draft budget for 2012 and on the status of implementation of the new AU staff regulations and rules, amongst others.

AFRICA: Converting borders ‘from barriers to bridges’

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ACDHRS schedule date for NGOs Forum

NGOs Forum: An advocacy tool for human rights activists

ACDHRS Office along Coastal Road, Senegambia

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) has announced that the forthcoming Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Forum is slated for April 25-27, 2011. 

The Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 49^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) and the 23^rd Human Rights Book Fair will be held in Banjul, The Gambia.

The Forum is one of the main advocacy tools that the Centre uses to promote networking among Human Rights NGOs, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa. In collaboration with the African Commission and other human rights organizations, the African Centre has facilitated the participation of civil society organizations, academicians and other professionals from Africa and beyond in the African Commission's sessions. 

ACHPR calls on Libya to end violence against civilians

The Pan-African Human Rights Body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has called on the Government of the Great Socialist Peoples’ Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to immediately end the violence against civilians and take necessary steps to ensure that the human rights of its citizens and all its inhabitants are respected.

In a media dispatch on February 26, it said Libya should uphold the right to freedom of expression, assembly, the right to peaceful protest and ensure the security of its citizens, as provided by the African Charter.

The African Commission said it is particularly concerned about the serious and massive violations taking place in Libya and condemns the violence and use of force against civilians and suppression of peaceful demonstrators.