DAY I: TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2012
9.00-12:00 ITEM 1: OPENING CEREMONY (PUBLIC SESSION)
- African Union Anthem
- STATEMENTS
- Statement by a Representative of NGOs, Mrs Hannah Forster-10 Minutes
- Statement by a Representative of the National Human Rights Institutions, Adv. Lawrence Mushwana (name to be confirmed)-10 Minutes
- Speech by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Her Excellency Mrs Navi Pillay-10 Minutes
- Speech by the Representative of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights-10 Minutes
Interlude: Light Cultural Display-5 Minutes
- Speech by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, African Union Commission-10 Minutes
- Speech by the Representative of the Republic of the Gambia-10 Minutes
- Speech by Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Her Excellency, Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki-15 Minutes
Interlude: Light Cultural Display-5 Minutes
- Opening Address by the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara -20 Minutes
- Presentation of the African Commission’s Human Rights Awards by the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara: 15 Minutes
(a) Award to an African NHRI working toward the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa and the work of the African Commission
(b) Award to an African NGO working toward the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa and the work of the African Commission
- Family Photo-10 Minutes
- Reception-20 Minutes
12:00-13:00: ITEM 2: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA (PRIVATE SESSION)
ITEM 3: ORGANISATION OF WORK (PRIVATE SESSION)
15:00-18:00: ITEM 4: REVIEW OF 25 YEARS OF THE WORK OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION IN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS IN AFRICA (PUBLIC SESSION)
a) The relationship between the African Commission and Member States
Covering issues around implementation of decisions, concluding observations and recommendations of the African Commission; as well as State obligations to the African Commission with regard to missions and the hosting of sessions
Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maiga
- Dr Lirette Louw - Member States compliance with recommendations of the African Commission
- Dr Ibrahima Badawi El Sheikh - Implementation of the decisions of the African Commission by Member States
- Mrs Maria Kawimbe - Considerations by Member States in the implementation of African Commission’s decisions and recommendations
Comments and discussions
Recommendations from the Session
Day II: Wednesday, 10 October 2012
9:00 – 12:00: ITEM 4: CONT’D
b) The relationship between the African Commission and other AU Bodies:
- Covering the Relationship with the African Union Commission including administrative issues, staffing, financing and the legal obligations the AU Secretariat has towards the Commission; relationship with the Peace and Security Council, Permanent Representative Committee, The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and African Union Commission on International Law
Moderator: Hon. Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza
- His Lordship, Justice Ben Kioko – The legal obligations the AUC has towards the African Commission
- Professor Chidi Odinkalu – Relationship of the African Commission with the Peace and Security Council, Permanent Representative Committee, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and African Union Commission on International Law
- Professor Emmanuel Dankwa – Relationship of the African Commission with other bodies: What has worked? What hasn’t?
Comments and discussions
Recommendations from the Session
12:00 - 13:30 ITEM 5: COOPERATION AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION WITH ITS PARTNERS: NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (NHRIS), NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS) AND THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) (PUBLIC SESSION)
a) The relationship between the African Commission and its Partners
Covering the NGO Forum, CSO and NHRI participation in the open sessions and at national level missions. The presentations will also cover engagement with Commissioners and the Special Mechanisms, as well as their role in developing the Commission’s jurisprudence by bringing cases to the Commission. This session will also highlight the role of the UN in the work of the African Commission since its inception.
Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou
- Ambassador Mohamed Kamel Rezag Bara – The African Commission and civil society relations
- Mr Musa Gassama – Participation of civil society in the work of the African Commission
15:00 – 18:00 ITEM 5: CONT’D
a) The relationship between the African Commission and its Partners
- NANHRI (Mr Gilbert Sebihogo) – Participation of NHRIs in the work of the African Commission
- Mr Ahmed Motala – Collaboration between the African Commission and the UN
- Mrs Hannah Forster – Relationship between the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies and the African Commission
Comment and discussions
Recommendations from the Session
DAY III – THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER 2012
9:00 – 10:00 ITEM 5: COOPERATION AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION WITH ITS PARTNERS
b) Consideration of Applications for Observer Status from NGOs
10:00-13:00 ITEM 6: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AFRICAN COMMISSION AND THE SECRETARIAT
This would be an objective discussion on the structural challenges facing the African Commission including part time Chairperson and Commissioners, legal officers assigned to Commissioners’ mandates and special mechanisms, case management, record keeping and the Commission’s Communications policy.
Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Med Kaggwa
- Her Lordship, Justice (Mrs) Salamata Sawadogo – The structural challenges in the relationship between the African Commission and the Secretariat
- Dr Robert Eno – The practical challenges in the relationship between the African Commission and the Secretariat
- Maitre Germain Baricako – Point of view of a former Secretary of the African Commission
Comment and discussions
Recommendations from the Session
15:00 – 18:00 ITEM 7: CONSIDERATION OF STATE REPORTS (PUBLIC SESSION)
a) Status of Submission of State Party Reports
b) Consideration of the:
i. Periodic Report of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
DAY IV: FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER 2012
9:00 – 13:30 ITEM 7: CONT’D
DAY V: SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER 2012
9:00 – 13:00 ITEM 8: SPECIAL SESSION ON THE JURISPRUDENCE OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION
This will cover decisions, reasonings and contradictions of the cases the Commission has considered over the last 25 years. Experts with extensive knowledge and understanding of the jurisprudence of the African Commission will present on the admissibility of cases, the reasoning of the Commission in its decisions, and the influence of the jurisprudence of other regional human rights mechanisms on the work of the African Commission.
Moderator: Honourable Commissioner: Maya Sahel Fadel
- Prof. Alain Didier Olinga – The Protection of Individual Rights by the African Commission through the borrowing of jurisprudence from the European and Inter-American Systems
- Ibrahima Kane – The review of the jurisprudence of the African Commission on admissibility of individual communications
- IHRDA – The methods of interpretation of the provisions of the African Charter by the African Commission
- Professor Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen – What can the African Human Rights System learn from the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in terms of interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Professor Dina Shelton – Lessons from the Inter-American system of human rights on the interpretation and implementation of a regional human rights treaty
Comments and Discussions
Recommendations from the Session
15:00 – 18:00 ITEM 9: REPORTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION AND SPECIAL MECHANISMS ON 25 YEARS OF THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA (PUBLIC SESSION)
a) Presentation of the Activity Reports of Special Mechanisms of the African Commission:
i. Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa
ii. Chairperson of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa
iii. Chairperson of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities
Comments and Discussions
Recommendations from the Session
DAY VI SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER 2012
15:00 – 18:00 ITEM 9 CONT’D
i. Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa
ii. Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa
iii. Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries
Comments and Discussions
Recommendations from the Session
DAY VII: MONDAY 15 OCTOBER 2012
9:00 – 13:00 ITEM 9: CONT’D
i. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa
ii. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa
Comments and Discussions
Recommendations from the Session
15:00 – 18:00 ITEM 9: CONT’D
i. Chairperson of the Working Group on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples/Communities in Africa
ii. Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa
Comments and Discussions
Recommendations from the Session
DAY VIII: TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2012
9:00 – 13:00 ITEM 9 CONT’D
i. Chairperson of the Working Group on the Death Penalty
ii. Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV)
iii. Chairperson of the Working Group on Communications
Comment and discussions
Recommendations from the Session
Close of the 25th Anniversary Public Session
Day VIII – XIV: Tuesday 16 October – Monday 22 October 2012
Item 9: Consideration of: (Private Session)
a) Report of the Advisory Committee on Budget and Staff matters;
b) Report of the Working Group on Communications
c) Draft Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa
d) Report on the Working Group on Freedom of Assembly
e) Draft Model Law on Access to Information
f) Draft General Comments on Article 14(1)(d) and (e) of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa
g) Analysis of Article 56(5) of the African Charter
Item 10: Consideration and Adoption of Draft Reports of: (Private Session)
a) WGIP’s follow-up Mission to the Central African Republic
b) Special Mission to the Saharawi Democratic Republic
Item 11: Consideration of Communications: (Private Session)
Item 12: Report of the Executive Secretary: (Private Session)
Item 13: Consideration and Adoption of (Private Session)
a) Recommendations, Resolutions and Decisions
b) Concluding Observations of Republic of Burundi
c) Concluding Observations of Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Item 14: Dates and Venue of the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ACHPR (Private Session)
Item 15: Any Other Business (Private Session)
Item 16: Adoption of: (Private Session)
a) 52nd Ordinary Session Report
b) Final Communiqué of the 52nd Ordinary Session
Item 17: Reading of the Final Communiqué and Closing Ceremony (Public Session)
Item 18: Press Conference (Public Session)
