AFRICAN UNION
الاتحاد الأفريقي
UNION AFRICAINE
UNIÃO AFRICANA
Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme et des Peuples
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, Western Region, P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: (220) 4410505 / 4410506; Fax: (220) 4410504
E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org; Web www.achpr.org
FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 73RD ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN
COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
BANJUL, THE GAMBIA 20 OCTOBER – 9 NOVEMBER 2022
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- 1. In accordance with Article 64(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), read together with Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure (2020) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), the Commission held its 73$^{rd}$ Ordinary Session (Session), from 20 October to 9 November 2022 in Banjul, The Gambia.
- 2. This Session commemorated the 35$^{th}$ anniversary of the Commission, and marked the first time the Commission was meeting physically for a Session, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020.
- 3. The 35$^{th}$ Anniversary celebrations, commenced on 20 October 2022, with the handing over of the Title Deed of a piece of land, by the Government of The Gambia to the Commission, for the construction of the Headquarters of the Secretariat of the Commission, in Bijilo, The Gambia.
- 4. This commemorative event, which also marked the laying of the foundation stone for the Headquarter building, was presided over by, the Honourable Minister of Interior of The Gambia, Mr. Seyaka Sonko, representing the Vice President of The Gambia H.E. Badara Alieu Joof; Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Momodou Tangara; H.E. Ms. Jainaba Jagne, Ambassador of The Gambia to the African Union (AU); the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Her Excellency Monique Nsazabaganwa; Commissioners; Mr. Hussein Thomasi, Solicitor General and Legal Secretary Ministry of Justice; Members of the Commission, and staff of its Secretariat; and other distinguished representatives from the AU Headquarters and the Government of The Gambia.
- 5. The Opening Ceremony of the Session was held on 21 October 2022 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, and was presided over by H.E. Badara Alieu Joof, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia; H.E. Ismaïla Madior Fall, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seal of the Republic of Senegal, representing H.E. Macky Sall President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the AU, Hon. Justice Hassan B. Jallow, Chief Justice of The Gambia and one of the Drafters of the African Charter; Her Excellency Monique Nsazabaganwa, representing His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AUC; and Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the Commission.
- 6. While the Commission held its Public Session at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, the Private Session took place at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.