The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 54th Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia held from 22 October to 5 November 2013;
Recalling all the relevant regional and international human rights instruments, specifically Articles 21 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, on the right of all peoples to freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources and to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development;
Recalling the unconditional responsibility of State Parties to prevent all forms of violations of human and peoples’ rights, including violations of human and peoples’ rights by non-state actors;
Concerned by the increasing rate of the destruction of the African environment and ecosystem by extractive industrial activities with impunity;
Convinced of the need for an improved protection of human rights, especially through the development of jurisprudence on holding non-state actors accountable for human rights violations in Africa;
Recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res148(XLVI) 09, establishing the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa (the Working Group), adopted during the 46th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 11 to 25 November 2009;
Recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res198(L)2011 appointing Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza as Chairperson of the Working Group for an initial period of two years, adopted at its 50th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 24 October to 5 November, 2011;
Further recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res.215 (LI) 2012 on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Expert Members of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa;
Mindful of Resolution ACHPR/Res.236 (LIII) 2013 on the illicit flight of capital from Africa, adopted during the 53rd Ordinary Session held from 9 to 23 April 2013 and which required the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa and the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa to carry out an in-depth study on the impact of the illicit flight of capital on human rights in Africa;
Noting with appreciation the work undertaken during the past two years by the Working Group under the leadership of Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza;
Considering that the mandate of the Chairperson and the members of the Working Group comes to an end on 5 November 2013;
Recognizing the importance of the Working Group and the need to allow the Working Group to continue to carry out its mandate;
Decides to:
- Renew, for a period of 2 years and taking effect from 5 November 2013, the mandate of Commissioner Manirakiza Pacifique as Chairperson of the Working Group, and CommissionerYeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen as a Member for the same period; and
- Appoint Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute as a member of the Working Group for the same period.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 5 November 2013
