Texte juridique · Concluding Observations of the…

La Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme et des Peuples a examiné le rapport initial de la Zambie lors de sa 41e session ordinaire à Accra, Ghana. Elle salue les efforts de la Zambie en matière de droits humains, notamment la révision de lois restrictives, la lutte contre la surpopulation carcérale et les politiques de santé. Cependant, elle exprime des préoccupations concernant la mortalité infantile, le paludisme, le VIH/SIDA et la non-ratification de certains protocoles. La Commission…

41st Ordinary Session

Accra, Ghana

16 – 30 May 2007

Introduction

In accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Republic of Zambia which ratified the African Charter in January 1984 submitted its initial report to the African Commission.
The Initial Report of the Republic of Zambia was received at the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) in February, 2006 and was considered at the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission which took place in Accra, Ghana from 16 – 30 May 2007.
The Report was presented before the Commission by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Zambia.
The African Commission welcomes the submission of Zambia's initial report and its subsequent presentation in an atmosphere of frankness that encouraged constructive dialogue between the distinguished representatives from Zambia and Members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
The present concluding observations flow from the presentation of the report. They highlight the positive aspects identified in the Report as well as the factors restricting the effective enjoyment of human and peoples' rights in the country. They also underline areas of concern where, in the Commission's view, action needs to be taken. Finally, recommendations have been made to the State on measures to be taken to enhance the enjoyment of human rights in general and the rights guaranteed in the African Charter in particular.

Positive Factors in the Report

6. After careful examination of the Report and a fruitful dialogue with the distinguished representatives from the Republic of Zambia, the African Commission observed the following positive factors in the report which merit commendation:
7. The Commission commends the Republic of Zambia for ensuring that the Initial State Report conforms to its guidelines for the preparation of State Reports and further that the Report identifies legislative and other measures put in place to implement the basic rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Charter.
8. The African Commission recognises in particular that the Republic of Zambia does not only indicate the measures it has put in place to ensure implementation of the Charter but has also indicated the difficulties it encounters in the implementation of the Charter.
9. The African Commission notes that Zambia's Constitution makes provision for a Bill of Rights and further provides for various constitutional bodies to provide remedy when human rights are violated. These bodies include the courts as well as the Permanent Human Rights Commission.
10. The African Commission also takes note of the fact that Zambia has ratified major international and regional human rights instruments. These include the following:

• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR);
• The International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD);