The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 73rd Ordinary Session from 20 October to 9 November 2022, in Banjul, The Gambia:
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling also the obligations of States Parties under Article 10 and 11 of the African Charter and the relevant provisions of regional and international human rights instruments, including the obligation to guarantee the freedoms of association and of assembly of human rights defenders;
Further recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.69 (XXXV) 4 on the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, adopted at its 35th Ordinary Session held from 21 May to 4 June 2004, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Bearing in mind its Resolutions ACHPR/Res 104(XXXXI) 7, ACHPR/Res.119 (XXXXII) 7, ACHPR/Res.196(L) 2011, ACHPR/Res.345(LVIII) 2016 and ACHPR/Res.376(LX) 2017 on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Considering Resolutions ACHPR/Res.83 (XXXVIII) 5, ACHPR/Res.149 (XLVI) 9, ACHPR/Res.171 (XLVII) 10, ACHPR/Res.202 (L) 11 and ACHPR/Res. 381(LXI) 2017 appointing various Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Considering also its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.125 (XXXXII) 7 and ACHPR/Res.248 (LIV) 13 ACHPR/Res.425 (LXV) 2019, - ACHPR/Res. 451 (LXVI) 2020 on the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Further considering its Resolution ACHPR/Res.273 (LV)14 on the broadening of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa in the event of reprisals, adopted at its 55th Ordinary Session held from 28 April to 12 May 2014 in Luanda, Angola;
Considering moreover that in the Great Bay Declaration and Plan of Action (Mauritius), the Organization of African Unity (African Union) had called on Member States « to take appropriate measures to implement the United Nations Declaration on the protection of Human Rights Defenders »;
Noting with appreciation the work done by Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu and all former Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on reprisals in Africa in the discharge of their mandate;
Underscoring the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur in relation to the quest for solutions to the problems raised in the protection of Human Rights Defenders on the Continent and the need to enable him to pursue the exercise of his mandate in accordance with Resolutions ACHPR/Res. 69(XXXV) 4 and ACHPR/Res.273 (LV)14;
Noting the decisions taken during this 73rd Ordinary Session regarding the allocation of responsibilities among the Commissioners;
Decides to renew the mandate of Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu as Special Rapporteur on the rights of Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on reprisals in Africa, for a period of two (2) years, with effect from 9 November, 2022.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 9 November 2022
