The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, meeting in its fifth ordinary session from 3-14 April 1989, in Benghazi, Libya:
Considering that the establishment of Committees on Human Rights or other similar organs at the national , regional or sub-regional level, as means by which to ensure respect for and as wide a promotion as possible of human rights has always been of interest to the various organs of the United Nations since the setting up of the Organisation;
Considering in particular Resolution 33/46 of 14 December, 1978, adopted by the UN General Assembly, and Resolution 24 (XXXV) of 14 March, 1979, adopted by the Human Rights Commission, which approved the guiding principles advocated by the Seminar, held in Geneva on 18 or 19 September, 1978, as regards national or local institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights;
Considering that it is desirable that the mission aimed at promoting human and peoples’ rights sent by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, by virtue of its Charter, under Article 45, would be carried out through the assistance and support of national and regional committees established for that purpose, and composed of eminent personalities, which should also help governments solve their national or local problems relevant to human rights, thus promoting a better awareness of issues related to human rights:
1. Invites all the States, parties to the Charter, where no national institutions as yet exist for the promotion and protection of human rights, to take appropriate measures to establish such institutions;
2. Calls on the States parties to the Charter to take due account, when establishing national institutions, of those guiding principles, in planning their structure and functioning, born of the Seminar on national and local institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, held in Geneva from 18 to 29 September 1978;
3. Requests the OAU Secretary General to submit a detailed report on existing national institutions.
