Final Communiqué of the 24th Extraordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul

1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Commission) held its 24th
Extraordinary Session from 30 July to 8 August 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The
Gambia.
2. The Session was convened to consider the various items on the agenda, namely
Communications, recommendations arising from the 33rd Ordinary Session of the
Executive Council of the African Union held on 28 and 29 June 2018 in Nouakchott,
Mauritania, as well as other urgent outstanding issues from its previous sessions.
3. The Session was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, Chairperson of
the Commission, assisted by Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute,
Vice-Chairperson.
4. The 24th Extraordinary Session was attended by the following members of the
Commission:
i. Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, Chairperson;
ii. Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute, Vice-Chairperson;
iii. Honourable Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie;
iv. Honourable Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor;
v. Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel;
vi. Honourable Commissioner Jamesina Essie L. King;
vii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso;
viii. Honourable Commissioner Essaiem Hatem;
ix. Honourable Commissioner Teresa Manuela; and
x. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu.
5. Honourable Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen was absent with
apologies.
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6. Following the adoption of the agenda, the Chairperson of the Commission,
Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, presented the report on meetings with
policy organs held during the African Union Summit which took place from 25 June
to 2 July 2018 in Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
7. The Chairperson also presented to Honourable Commissioners Decision
EX.CL/1015(XXXIII) of the Executive Council on the recommendations of the Joint
Retreat between the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Commission that
was held on 4 and 5 June 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.
8. The Commission took the following measures to give effect to some of the
recommendations that were made to the Commission:
i. Adoption of a decision on the withdrawal of the Observer Status granted to the
NGO Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), with a letter of notification addressed
to CAL;
ii. Establishment of a Committee comprised of three Commissioners to conduct
research on all relevant aspects that can be useful in developing a Code of Conduct
for Commissioners;
iii. Establishment of a Committee comprised of three Commissioners to prepare a
document on the interpretative mandate of the Commission.
9. The Commission considered and adopted the following documents:
i. Report of the Secretariat on follow-up actions of the 62nd Ordinary Session of
the Commission;
ii. Study on Transitional Justice in Africa;
iii. Report on Communications Audit.
10. The Commission considered and deferred to its next Session the adoption of the Draft
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of
Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security.
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11. The Commission considered its draft revised Rules of Procedure and deferred the
document to its next sessions for finalisation, towards moving to the next stages
before its formal adoption by the Commission.
12. The Commission was briefed on the following documents:
i. Report of the Meeting on the Addis Ababa Roadmap held in Geneva,
Switzerland, on 8 June 2018;
ii. Update on the African Governance Architecture;
iii. Report on Financial and Budgetary Matters;
iv. Update on the support project for Strengthening the African Human Rights
System (PANAF);
v. Document on preparations for the Tripartite Consultative Workshop on the
proposed Joint Compliance Monitoring Framework for the Implementation of
Decisions of the Commission, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
13. The Commission considered a total of twenty-three (23) Communications:
i. Six (6) Communications on Seizure: the Commission decided to be seized of
five (5) and dismissed one (1). The Commission also dismissed one (1) request
for Provisional Measures;
ii. Seven (7) Communications on Admissibility: the Commission declared six (6)
admissible and deferred one (1);
iii. One (1) Communication on the Merits: the Commission adopted the
Communication;
iv. Three (3) Communications for Strike-out: the Commission struck-out all the
three Communications;
v. The Commission granted requests for the withdrawal of two (2)
Communications;
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vi. The Commission gave guidance on four (4) Communications.
14. The Commission adopted the following Resolutions:
i. Resolution on the Development of General Comment on Article 7(d) of the
Maputo Protocol;
ii. Resolution on the Upcoming Legislative Elections in Guinea-Bissau.
15. The Commission adopted the Report of the Promotion Mission to the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and deferred to its next session the consideration of the following
reports:
i. Report of the Promotion Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo;
ii. Report of the Promotion Mission to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania;
iii. Report of the Promotion Mission to the Republic of Angola.
16. The Commission decided to hold its 63rd Ordinary Session from 24 October to 13
November 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia.
17. The Commission expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government and people of the
Republic of The Gambia for the hospitality extended to members of the Commission
during the 1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Commission) held its 24th
Extraordinary Session from 30 July to 8 August 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The
Gambia.
2. The Session was convened to consider the various items on the agenda, namely
Communications, recommendations arising from the 33rd Ordinary Session of the
Executive Council of the African Union held on 28 and 29 June 2018 in Nouakchott,
Mauritania, as well as other urgent outstanding issues from its previous sessions.
3. The Session was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, Chairperson of
the Commission, assisted by Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute,
Vice-Chairperson.
4. The 24th Extraordinary Session was attended by the following members of the
Commission:
i. Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, Chairperson;
ii. Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute, Vice-Chairperson;
iii. Honourable Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie;
iv. Honourable Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor;
v. Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel;
vi. Honourable Commissioner Jamesina Essie L. King;
vii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso;
viii. Honourable Commissioner Essaiem Hatem;
ix. Honourable Commissioner Teresa Manuela; and
x. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu.
5. Honourable Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen was absent with
apologies.
3
6. Following the adoption of the agenda, the Chairperson of the Commission,
Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, presented the report on meetings with
policy organs held during the African Union Summit which took place from 25 June
to 2 July 2018 in Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
7. The Chairperson also presented to Honourable Commissioners Decision
EX.CL/1015(XXXIII) of the Executive Council on the recommendations of the Joint
Retreat between the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Commission that
was held on 4 and 5 June 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.
8. The Commission took the following measures to give effect to some of the
recommendations that were made to the Commission:
i. Adoption of a decision on the withdrawal of the Observer Status granted to the
NGO Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), with a letter of notification addressed
to CAL;
ii. Establishment of a Committee comprised of three Commissioners to conduct
research on all relevant aspects that can be useful in developing a Code of Conduct
for Commissioners;
iii. Establishment of a Committee comprised of three Commissioners to prepare a
document on the interpretative mandate of the Commission.
9. The Commission considered and adopted the following documents:
i. Report of the Secretariat on follow-up actions of the 62nd Ordinary Session of
the Commission;
ii. Study on Transitional Justice in Africa;
iii. Report on Communications Audit.
10. The Commission considered and deferred to its next Session the adoption of the Draft
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of
Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security.
4
11. The Commission considered its draft revised Rules of Procedure and deferred the
document to its next sessions for finalisation, towards moving to the next stages
before its formal adoption by the Commission.
12. The Commission was briefed on the following documents:
i. Report of the Meeting on the Addis Ababa Roadmap held in Geneva,
Switzerland, on 8 June 2018;
ii. Update on the African Governance Architecture;
iii. Report on Financial and Budgetary Matters;
iv. Update on the support project for Strengthening the African Human Rights
System (PANAF);
v. Document on preparations for the Tripartite Consultative Workshop on the
proposed Joint Compliance Monitoring Framework for the Implementation of
Decisions of the Commission, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
13. The Commission considered a total of twenty-three (23) Communications:
i. Six (6) Communications on Seizure: the Commission decided to be seized of
five (5) and dismissed one (1). The Commission also dismissed one (1) request
for Provisional Measures;
ii. Seven (7) Communications on Admissibility: the Commission declared six (6)
admissible and deferred one (1);
iii. One (1) Communication on the Merits: the Commission adopted the
Communication;
iv. Three (3) Communications for Strike-out: the Commission struck-out all the
three Communications;
v. The Commission granted requests for the withdrawal of two (2)
Communications;
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vi. The Commission gave guidance on four (4) Communications.
14. The Commission adopted the following Resolutions:
i. Resolution on the Development of General Comment on Article 7(d) of the
Maputo Protocol;
ii. Resolution on the Upcoming Legislative Elections in Guinea-Bissau.
15. The Commission adopted the Report of the Promotion Mission to the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and deferred to its next session the consideration of the following
reports:
i. Report of the Promotion Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo;
ii. Report of the Promotion Mission to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania;
iii. Report of the Promotion Mission to the Republic of Angola.
16. The Commission decided to hold its 63rd Ordinary Session from 24 October to 13
November 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia.
17. The Commission expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government and people of the
Republic of The Gambia for the hospitality extended to members of the Commission
during the 24th Extraordinary Session.24th Extraordinary Session.