| 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) 441 05 05 /441 05 06, Fax: (220) 441 05 04 E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org; Web www.achpr.org |
COMBINED 48TH AND 49TH ACTIVITY REPORTS
OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
Submitted in Accordance with Article 54 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
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I. SUMMARY
- The combined 48th and 49th Activity Reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission or ACHPR) is 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 covers the period between 11 November 2019 and 03 December 2020.
- The Report highlights, among others: the statutory meetings of the Commission; the status of State Party reporting; Resolutions adopted by the Commission; the human rights complaints before the Commission and the decisions/actions taken thereon; the interventions of the Commission on human rights issues including: Letters of Urgent Appeal, Press Releases and Letters of Appreciation; the human rights situation on the continent; financial, staffing and operational matters of the Commission; and Recommendations of the Commission.
II. BACKGROUND
- The African Commission is an independent Organ established in terms of Article 30 of the African Charter, which was adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1981. The African Charter has been ratified by all Member States of the AU, except the Kingdom of Morocco, which re-joined the Union in January 2017. The Commission became operational in 1987 and has its headquarters in Banjul, The Gambia.
- The Commission is composed of eleven (11) members elected by AU Heads of State and Government, who serve in their individual capacities on a part-time basis.1 The Commission's mandate, as set out in Article 45 of the African Charter, is to
i. To promote human and peoples' rights and in particular; (a) To collect documents, undertake studies and researches on African problems in the field of human and peoples' rights, organize seminars, symposia and conferences, disseminate information, encourage national and local institutions concerned with human and peoples' rights, and should the case arise, give its views or make recommendations to Governments. (b) To formulate and lay down, principles and rules aimed at solving legal problems relating to human and peoples' rights and fundamental freedoms upon which African Governments may base their legislations. (c) Co-operate with other African and international institutions concerned with the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights.