Adopted by the Second Regional Conference for North and West Africa on the Question of the Death Penalty in Africa.
- The Second Regional Conference for North and West Africa on the Question of the Death Penalty in Africa was held in Cotonou, Benin from 12 to 15 April 2010.
- The Conference was organized by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the ACHPR) as part of the work of the African Commission's Working Group on the Death Penalty in Africa (WGDP). The Working Group is a special mechanism established during its 37th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, in May 2005, to, inter alia, developing a document on the Question of the Death Penalty in Africa, and propose strategies aimed at the abolition of the death penalty in Africa.
- Sixty-three (63) participants representing thirteen (13) Member States of the African Union (States Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights) took part in the Conference. They included Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Libya, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saharawi Republic, Senegal and Tunisia. The Conference was also attended by AU Organs and UN Agencies, National Human Rights Institutions, Academic and National Institutions, International and National NGOs.
- The Conference was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Zainabo Sylvie Kayitesi, the Chairperson of the WGDP. The Conference was officially opened by His Excellency Mr. Victor Topanou, Minister of Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Republic of Benin.
- Three speeches were delivered during the opening ceremony by His Excellency Mr. Victor Prudent Topanou, the Minister of Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Honourable Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou, Chairperson of the ACHPR and Honourable Commissioner Zainabo Sylvie Kayitesi, Chairperson of the WGDP.
- His Excellency Mr. Victor Prudent Topanou, the Minister of Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Republic of Benin commended the ACHPR and its Working Group for initiating dialogue on the continent on this very important, controversial and emotive human rights issue. The three speakers underscored the importance of dialogue and consultations aimed at collecting diverse views on the question of the death penalty in Africa, which would enhance collective understanding on the issue. They explored the possibility, and need of abolishing the death penalty and to observe a moratorium on executions in Africa, to conform to the international trend and, the need to enhance the protection of the right to life and human dignity, which are
enshrined in international and regional human rights instruments, which African States have ratified.
- The Vice-Chairperson of the ACHPR, Honourable Commissioner Mumba Malila, the Chairperson of the WGDP, Honourable Commissioner Zainabo Sylvie Kayitesi, Expert Member of the WGDP, Ms. Alice Mogwe and Senior Legal Officer of the African Commission, Dr. Robert Eno served as Resource Persons to the Conference and lead discussions on the following themes:
(i) Understanding the death penalty: origins and evolution. (ii) The situation of the death penalty in Africa: General overview and special focus on North and West Africa.