| AFRICAN UNION | UNION AFRICAINE | |
|---|---|---|
| الاتحاد الأفريقي | UNIÃO AFRICANA | |
| African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights | 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 / +220) 441 05 06, Cellphone (+220) 2304361 E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org/africancommission@yahoo.com; Web www.achpr.org |
**FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 69$^{TH}$ ORDINARY SESSION OF THE
AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS**
Virtual Session 15 November – 5 December 2021
- The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) held its 69th Ordinary Session (the Session) from 15 November to 5 December 2021. The Session was held virtually due to the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, Outgoing Chairperson of the Commission, with the assistance of Honourable Commissioner Remy Ngoy Lumbu, Outgoing Vice Chairperson of the Commission.
- The Commission elected its new Bureau which shall serve for two years. The Bureau is composed of Honourable Rémy Ngoy Lumbu as Chairperson and Honourable Maya Sahli-Fadel as Vice Chairperson.
- Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, who was re-elected to the Commission for a second term, made the Solemn Declaration prior to taking office.
- The newly elected members also made the Solemn Declaration prior to taking up their duties as Commissioners. They are:
i. Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah – Njie; ii. Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo; and iii. Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow.
- His Excellency Ambassador Salah S. Hammad, Senior Human Rights Expert of the AUC Department of Political Affairs, delivered a statement on behalf of His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, AUC Chairperson.
- The following Members of the Commission participated in the Session:
i. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson; ii. Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, Vice Chairperson; iii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso; iv. Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem; v. Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela; vi. Honourable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga; vii. Honourable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo; viii. Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah – Njie; ix. Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo; and x. Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow.
- Statements were delivered at the Opening Ceremony by Mrs Hannah Forster, Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, speaking on behalf of the NGO Forum Steering