| AFRICAN UNION | UNION AFRICAINE | |
|---|---|---|
| الاتحاد الأفريقي African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights | UNIÃO AFRICANA Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme & des Peuples | |
| No. 31 Bijilo Annex Lay-out, Kombo North District, Western Region, P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia Tel: (220) (220) 441 05 05 /441 05 06, Fax: (220) 441 05 04 E-mail: achpr@achpr.org; Web www.achpr.org |
Forty-Sixth Ordinary Session
11 – 25 November 2009, in Banjul, The Gambia
Consideration of Reports submitted by States Parties under the Terms of Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Initial Periodic Report of the Republic of Congo
I- Introduction
- The Republic of Congo (Congo) is a State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) having ratified the same on 9 December 1982.
- The present Report gives an account of the human rights situation in the Republic of Congo and encapsulates all the outstanding reports from 1984 to 2009, representing a total of 13 reports.
- The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Commission) lauds the efforts made in the preparation of the report as well as its presentation during the 45th Ordinary Session by the Republic of Congo, represented by a Delegation led by His Excellency Mr. Alphonse Dinard Moubangat Moukonzi, Chief Director at the Ministry of Justice and also comprising Mr. Valentin Mavoungou, Director General responsible for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Mr. William Mviboudoulou, Director of International Legal Affairs, Mr. Norbert
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Initial Periodic Report of the Republic of Congo
Kengo, Head of the Directorate of Special Legal Affairs as well as Mr. Alexis Ekaba, Counselor.
- These Concluding Observations are a follow-up to the report presented by the Republic of Congo and the answers provided by the Delegation in respect of questions addressed to the same. They also contain positive aspects found in the report as well as factors that are likely to restrict or curtail the enjoyment of human and peoples' rights in the Republic of Congo.
- These Concluding Observations lay emphasis as well on the areas of concern, which in the opinion of the African Commission, require that measures be taken. Finally, these Concluding Observations also contain recommendations to the Congolese State, which centre on measures that need to be taken to strengthen the enjoyment of human and peoples' rights in Congo.
II – Positive Aspects
The African Commission:
- Takes note of the fact that since its independence on 15 August 1960, the Republic of Congo has experienced a lot of regime changes, but since 1991, the country has been working towards the establishment of a State based on the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.