| AFRICAN UNION | UNION AFRICAINE | |
|---|---|---|
| الاتحاد الأفريقي | UNIÃO AFRICANA | |
| AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES |
2021 AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DAY HIGH-LEVEL EVENT
**AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS 40 YEARS AFTER ADOPTION OF THE AFRICAN
CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS**
21 OCTOBER 2021
STATEMENT BY HON. LADY JUSTICE IMANI D ABOUD, PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS, DELIVERED ON HER BEHALF BY DR ROBERT ENO, REGISTRAR, AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
[VIRTUAL]
[Salutations]
His Excellency, Mamadou Saliou Sow, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice in charge of the Promotion of Human Rights and Good Governance, Representing His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal (Guest of Honour)
Representatives of Member States of the African Union
Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat
The Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Dr Solomon Dersso
The Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Hon. Joseph Ndayisenga
The Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption,
Representatives of Regional Economic Communities
Representatives of other AU Organs
The Acting Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo
Representatives of NHRIs, CSOs, the Academia, THE Media
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
Last year, we celebrated African Human Rights Day under the theme “Africa Human Rights Day: Building Back Better”. It was one of the most challenging year for promotion and protection of human rights as governments around the world experimented with measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the measures seriously undermining the enjoyment of basic rights and freedoms. The Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Dersso noted that the pandemic “… disrupted the living of our societies with huge consequences. The Pandemic highlights pervasive poverty and inequalities”, adding that “the virus exposed deep
structural weaknesses of the societies'. The then Commissioner for Political Affairs, H. E. Cessouma Minata Samate for her part noted that 'the continent has displayed resilience and prevented the worst manifestation of the pandemic'.
This spirit of resilience is firmly embedded in our Africanness as demonstrated in our history. The same spirit of resilience is reflected throughout the preamble and body of the African Charter adopted 40 years ago. So, as we commemorate African Human Rights Day today, under the theme 'Africa Human Rights – 40 years after the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights', it is an opportunity to reflect on where we came from, where we are and where we are going to, in the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights on the continent.