The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights meeting at its 28th Ordinary Session in Cotonou, Benin from 23rd October to 6th November 2000:
Recalling that at its 26th Ordinary Session held in Kigali, Rwanda, it constituted a Committee made up of 3 Commissioners to further consider the issue of Indigenous People in Africa and advise accordingly;
Having reconsidered the issue and its implications;
Resolves to:
1. Establish a working group of experts on the rights of indigenous or ethnic communities in Africa ;
2. Set up a working group constituted of 2 members of the African Commission, one of whom should be designated as convenor and 2 African experts in the field of human rights or indigenous issues;
3. Assign the following mandate to the working group:
a) Examine the concept of indigenous people and communities in Africa;
b) Study the implications of the African Charter on Human Rights and well being of indigenous communities especially with regard to:
- the right to equality (Articles 2 and 3);
- the right to dignity (Article 5);
- protection against domination (Article 19);
- on self-determination (Article 20); and
- the promotion of cultural development and identity (Article 22).
c) Consider appropriate recommendations for the monitoring and protection of the rights of indigenous communities;
4. Have a funding proposal prepared with a view to raising donor funds to meet the costs of the work of the working group;
5. Submit a report at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Commission.
Done in Cotonou, Benin, 6th November 2000.
