The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 75th Ordinary Session, held from 3 – 23 May 2023 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Bearing in mind its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Considering its Resolution ACHPR/Res.73 (XXXVI) 04 Establishing and defining the Mandate of the Working Group on Economic and Social Rights in Africa (the Working Group) adopted at its 36th Ordinary Session held in Dakar, Senegal, from 23rd November to 7th December 2004;
Recalling its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.147 (XLVI) 09; ACHPR/Res.193 (L) 11; ACHPR/Res.252 (LIV) 13, ACHPR/Res.296 (EXT.OS/XVI) 14; ACHPR/Res.316 (LVII) 2015; ACHPR/Res.391(LXI) 2017; ACHPR/Res.425(LXV)2019; and ACHPR/Res. 457 (LXVI) 2020; on the appointment of Expert Members and renewal of the mandate of the Working Group respectively;
Further recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.532 (LXXIII) 2022, on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa and Appointment of its Chairperson and Members, adopted at its 73rd Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 20 October to 9 November 2022;
Bearing in mind the Principles and Guidelines on the Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the African Charter (Nairobi Principles and Guidelines) and the State Party Reporting Guidelines for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the African Charter (Tunis Reporting Guidelines);
Also bearing in mind the Standard Operating Procedures on the Special Mechanisms of the Commission (the SOPs on Special Mechanisms) adopted at its 27th Extraordinary Session held from 19 February to 4 March 2020 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Noting the guidelines set out in the SOPs on Special Mechanisms, including the general roles and responsibilities of mandate holders, the composition of the mechanisms, the appointment of members and the duration of their mandate as well as the code of conduct for mandate holders;
Considering that the mandate of Mr. Azzouz Kerdoun, an Expert Member of the Working Group from North Africa, came to an end upon his demise during the inter-session period, thus leaving a gap that needs to be filled;
Recognizing the importance of the mandate and effort of the Working Group in promoting and protecting Economic, Social and Cultural rights in Africa and the need to enable the Working Group to continue to implement its mandate;
Mindful of the need to appoint a new Expert member to complete the mandate of the deceased Expert Member which was for two years with effect from 9 November 2022;
Decides to:
Appoint Ashraf Milad Ruxi Thomas (North Africa), for the remainder of the current term of expert members appointed during the 73rd Ordinary Session of the Commission in 9 November 2022.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 23 May 2023.
