54th and 55th Activity Reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

ACHPR

Human Rights our Collective Responsibility

54TH AND 55TH ACTIVITY REPORTS

OF THE

AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS

Presented in accordance with Article 54 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

ACHPR African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Human Rights our Collective Responsibility

I. SUMMARY

1. The 54th and 55th Combined Activity Reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission or the ACHPR) are presented to the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), in accordance with Article 54 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) and cover the period from 10 November 2022 to 10 November 2023.
2. The activities presented in this Report that the Commission undertook during the period under review are geared towards achieving the priority areas set out in the Commission's 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Accordingly, the Commission's statutory meetings were devoted in particular to strengthening the protection mandate by processing Communications on alleged human rights violations, thereby reinforcing the Commission's implementation of its mandate to protect human and peoples' rights. This mandate is further strengthened by the Commission's interventions on urgent and pressing human rights issues through urgent appeal letters, press releases, resolutions and letters of congratulations.
3. It also includes activities relating to better promotion of human rights on the continent, as required by the African Charter.
4. The activities carried out by the Commission's Special Mechanisms and the consideration of Reports of States Parties to the African Charter on the implementation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter have contributed to the improvement of national legal and institutional frameworks for the promotion and protection of rights at national level through the adoption of new laws, the revision of existing laws and the creation or reform of relevant institutions in States Parties. The Report also presents issues relating to the Commission's finances, staffing and functioning, as well as the Commission's recommendations on the human rights situation on the continent.

II. BACKGROUND

1. The Commission is an independent Organ established under Article 30 of the African Charter, which was adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1981. The African Charter has been ratified by all AU Member States, with the exception of the Kingdom of Morocco, which rejoined the Union in January 2017. The Commission became operational in 1987 and is based in Banjul, Gambia.
2. The Commission is composed of eleven (11) members elected by the Heads of State and Government of the AU, and they serve in their individual capacity and on a part-time

ACHPR African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Human Rights our Collective Responsibility

basis. However, during the period under review, the Commission currently operated with ten (10) Commissioners.¹

1. The Commission's mandate, as defined in Article 45 of the African Charter, is as follows: