II – Activities carried out as member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities
8. From 22 to 25 August, 2011.
We participated in a Regional Seminar in Brazzaville on Sensitization concerning the rights of Indigenous Populations/Communities in Central and East Africa.
9. The objectives of the seminar, among others, were to : explain and popularize the approach adopted by the African Commission both on the concept and on issues concerning the rights of indigenous populations in Africa ; to identify the challenges and problems faced in the different countries in protecting the rights of this vulnerable and marginalized segment of society ; and finally, to encourage the countries to ratify ILO Convention 169 and to adopt laws, policies and programmes aimed at promoting and protecting the indigenous populations, just like the system in Central African Republic and Congo.
10. On this occasion, the theme for the seminar was: « The ACHPR and the protection of the rights of indigenous populations: Development, Historical Background, Mandate, Activities and Future Prospects ». The seminar brought together Government representatives and agencies of the United Nations system, organs of the African Union, national human rights institutions, NGOs and indigenous people from Central and East Africa. Several recommendations were made to the stakeholders for synergy of actions designed to incorporate the concerns and needs of indigenous populations.
