- The Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa (the Working Group) met from 14 to 16 December 2014 in Dakar, Republic of Senegal.
- The meeting was attended by the following members of the Working Group:
- Honourable CommissionerMohamed BéchirKhalfallah, Chairperson of the Working Group;
- Honourable Commissioner Maya SahliFadel, Member; and
- MsFatouBintouSallah, Representative of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa.
- The meeting was also attended by Ms Hélène Ramos dos Santos of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association, in her capacity as resource person and focal point for the United Nations.
- The following members of the Working Group were absent with apologies:
- Honourable Commissioner SoyataMaiga;
- Prof.FransViljoen; and
- MrChafiBakari.
- The meeting was chaired by Honourable CommissionerMohamed BéchirKhalfallah,Chairperson of the Working Group.
6. In his opening statement, the Chairperson of the Working Group expressed his gratitude to the participants for their commitment in promoting and protecting human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights.
- The Working Group developed its 2015-2018 Plan of Action for the implementation of the various activities under its mandate in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the African Commission.
8. Participants discussed the organisation of a continental conference on “The Right to Education for All: Africa’s Post-2015 Priorities and Challenges”.
- Participants also discussed future ways of the Working Group’s contribution and participation in the activities to celebrate 2016 which has been declared “African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women”.
- The Working Group considered the dissemination of the Nairobi Principles and Guidelines and the Tunis Guidelines.
- The Working Group also considered ways of strengthening its collaboration with UN special procedures with a similar mandate in accordance with the Addis Ababa Roadmap.
- The Working Group pre-selected new expert members and came up with a list which will be submitted to the Commission during its next Session for adoption.
- The process for publishing the documents of the Algiers workshop on the right to education for all was also discussed.
- The Working Group also considered the partnership proposals submitted by two NGOs working in the area of economic, social and cultural rights.
- A Statement on the collective responsibility of States in preventing and containing the Ebola outbreak was adopted by the Working Group.
- The meeting ended with a word of thanks by the Chairperson of the Working Group who commended the members for their efforts and participation,and the Secretariat Staff of the Commission for facilitating the organisation of the meeting.
Dakar, Senegal, 16 December 2014
