The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission or ACHPR) meeting at its 42nd Ordinary Session held from 15 - 28 November 2007, in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo:
Recalling its mandate to promote human and peoples’ rights and ensure their protection in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling Article 13(1) of the African Charter which provides that every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law;
Welcoming the adoption, at the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (the Charter on Democracy), on 30 January 2007;
Noting that, in accordance with Article 2(10) of the Charter on Democracy, its objectives include the promotion of “the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs”;
Noting that only ten (10) AU Member States have signed the Charter on Democracy since its adoption in January 2007, and that there has been no ratification yet, thus delaying the Charter from entering into force;
Appeals to Member States to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to accelerate its coming into force.
Done in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 28 November 2007
