The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) meeting at its 61st Ordinary Session held from 1 to 15 November 2017, in Banjul, The Gambia:
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);
Reaffirming the importance of observing the objectives and principles of the African Charter for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all, including those of detainees and prisoners;
Recalling its decision taken at its 20th Ordinary Session held in Grand Bay, Mauritius in October 1996 to establish the office and to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, as a prison monitoring mechanism;
Further recalling its decision taken at its 38th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, in November/December 2005 to appoint the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa;
Bearing in mind Resolution ACHPR/Res.126 (XXXXII) 07 on the Appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa adopted at the 42ndOrdinary Session held from 15 – 28 November 2007, in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo;
Considering Resolution ACHPR/Res.206 (L) 11 on the Appointment of Commissioner Med S.K. Kaggwa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, adopted at the 50th Ordinary Session held from 24 October to 5 November 2011, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res.306 (EXT.OS/ XVIII) 2015 Expanding the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa to include issues relating to Policing and human rights with the following amended title: The Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa;
Noting with appreciation the work already carried out by Commissioner Med S.K. Kaggwa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa and subsequently as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa;
Considering that the mandate of Commissioner Med S.K. Kaggwa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa has come to an end on 1 November 2017;
Decides to appoint Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa for a period of two years, effective from 15 November 2017.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 15 November 2017
