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 and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.69 (XXXV) 04 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;
Further recalling its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.56 (XXIX) 01, ACHPR/Res.104 (XXXXI) 07, ACHPR/Res.119 (XXXXII) 07, ACHPR/Res.196 (L) 11, ACHPR/Res.345 (LVIII) 16 and ACHPR/Res.376 (LX) 17 on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa;
Bearing in mind its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.83 (XXXVIII) 05, ACHPR/Res.149 (XLVI) 09, ACHPR/Res.171 (XLVII) 10, and ACHPR/Res.202 (L) 11 on the appointment of the various Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Recalling its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.248 (LIV) 2013 and ACHPR/Res.315 (LVII) 15 on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Bearing in mind also that in the Grand Bay Declaration and Plan of Action (Mauritius), the Organisation of African Unity (African Union) called on Member States “to take appropriate measures to implement the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders”;
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.273 (LV) 14 on the expansion of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa to include reprisals, adopted at the 55th Ordinary Session held from 28 April to 12 May 2014 in Luanda, Angola;
Considering the new responsibilities of the Special Rapporteur as the focal person for cases of reprisals against human rights defenders in Africa;
Considering the end-of-term report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa;
Noting with appreciation the work undertaken by Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa;
Noting the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur regarding the search for solutions to problems relating to the protection of human rights defenders;
Considering the need for the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa to continue to carry out its mandate;
Decides to appoint Commissioner Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa for a period of two (2) years, with effect from 15 November 2017.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 15 November 2017
