| AFRICAN UNION | UNION AFRICAINE | |
|---|---|---|
| الاتحاد الأفريقي African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights | UNIÃO AFRICANA Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme & 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 |
79$^{th}$ PUBLIC ORDINARY SESSION
OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
May 14 – June 3, 2024
Intersession Report Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa Honourable Commissioner Hatem ESSAIEM Committee Chairperson
Page 1 | 28
INTRODUCTION
- This report is submitted in accordance with Rules 25 (3) and 64 of the Rules of Procedure (2020) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), which require each subsidiary mechanism and each member of the Commission to submit, at each Ordinary Session of the Commission, a written report on the activities undertaken between two Ordinary Sessions.
- This report on the situation of torture and other ill-treatment in Africa is prepared in accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (the Committee or CPTA) which mandates the Committee to monitor the implementation of the Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa (the Robben Island Guidelines). The Robben Island Guidelines provide concrete guidance to state and non-state actors on how to implement Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) which states that: "Every individual shall have the right to respect for the dignity inherent in a human being and to the recognition of his legal status. All forms of exploitation and degradation of man, particularly slavery, slave trade, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment shall be prohibited."¹
- I therefore submit this report in my capacity as Chairperson of the Committee, member of the Commission and Country Rapporteur for the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of Mauritius, the Republic of Madagascar, and the Republic of the Sudan.
- This Report is presented on the occasion of the 79th Ordinary Session of the Commission. It summarizes the intersessional activities carried out under the various mandates entrusted to me. This Intersessional Report covers the period from the end of the 77th to the 79th Ordinary Session of the Commission, i.e. the period from November 10, 2023 to May 13, 2024.
- During the period covered by this report, I participated in all the activities provided for in the Work Plan of the Commission.
- With the lifting of travel restrictions by the African Union and thanks to the collaboration with our partners, we have been able to organise and participate in face-to-face activities. Other activities were conducted via webinars.