1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) held its 16th Extra-Ordinary Session, from 20 to 29 July 2014, in Kigali, Rwanda.
2. The Session was convened to deal with Communications, and other matters outstanding from past Sessions of the Commission.
3. The Chairperson of the Commission, Honourable Commissioner KayitesiZainabo Sylvie, opened the Session, with the assistance of Honourable Commissioner BéchirKhalfallah, the Vice-Chairperson.
4. The Session was attended by the following Commissioners:
Honourable Commissioner KayitesiZainabo Sylvie;
Honourable Commissioner Mohamed BéchirKhalfallah;
Honourable Commissioner ReineAlapini-Gansou;
Honourable Commissioner Pansy Tlakula;
Honourable Commissioner SoyataMaiga;
Honourable Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor;
Honourable Commissioner Med Kaggwa;
Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel;
Honourable Commissioner PacifiqueManirakiza; and
Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute.
5. Honourable Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen was absent with apologies.
6. The following activities were held prior to the Extra-Ordinary Session:
(i) Fourth Meeting of the Working Group on Extractive Industries,Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa;
(ii) Meeting of the Working Group on Communications;
(iii) Sixth Meeting between the Bureau of the Commission and the Bureau of
the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court); and
(iv) Third Annual Joint Meeting between the Commission and the Court.
7. The Chairperson, Honourable Commissioner KayitesiZainabo Sylvie, briefed Members of the Commission on the outcome of the 23rd African Union (AU) Summit, which took place from 20 to 27 June 2014, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
8. Additionally, the Chairperson reported on the side meetings and other activities which the Bureau attended on the margins of the African Union Summit.
9. The Commission considered and adopted decisions on twenty-six (26) Communications, as follows:
(i) Nine (9) Communications on Seizure. Provisional Measures were
granted on four (4) of these Communications and two (2)
communications were deferred awaiting further information;
(ii) Twelve (12) Communications on Admissibility, with nine (9)
declared admissible, two (2) declared inadmissible, and one (1)
deferred for additional information;
(iii) Three (3) Communications on the Merits, with one (1)
Communication deferred for further information; and
(iv) The Commission also considered and adopted one (1) decision on
review of an admissibility decision, and it struck out one (1)
Communication for want of diligent prosecution.
10. Additionally, the Commission provided directions on ten (10) Communications on which the Working Group on Communications had sought guidance.
11. The Commission deliberated on and adopted the following:
(i) Report of the Chairperson on the AU Policy Organs Meeting; and
(ii) Report of the Working Group on Communications.
12. The Commission adopted the following Resolutions:
(i) Resolution on the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples;
(ii) Resolution on the Need to Conduct a Study on Child Marriage inAfrica;
(iii) Resolution on the Need for the Conduct of a Study on HIV;
(iv) Resolution on Human Rights Abuses in Egypt;
(v) Resolution Condemning the Perpetrators of Sexual Assault and Violence in the Arab Republic of Egypt;
(vi) Resolution on Freedom of Expression in the Kingdom of Swaziland;
(vii) Resolution Appointing an Expert Member for the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV; and
(viii) Resolution on the Food Crisis in Somalia.
13. Further, the Commission issued a Press Release on the political situation in the Central African Republic. 14. The Commission deliberated on the following:
(i) Update on Cases before the Court;
(ii) Report of the Study Visit to the Court;
(iii) Guidelines on Referral of Cases to the Court;
(iv) Paper on the Pros and Cons of fusing the Admissibility and Merits stages of the Communications Procedure;
(v) The Draft Strategic Plan of the Commission, 2014 – 2018;
(vi) The Status of Budget Execution;
(vii) Collaboration with the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
(viii) Sample Format of the General Comments of the Commission; and
(ix) Update on the African Governance Architecture Process.
15. The Commission was briefed by Mr. ChristophaKachiza, from the Strategic Planning Department of the African Union Commission, on the AU’s Strategic Plan and Agenda 2063, following which the Commission deliberated on linkages with the Commission’s strategic planning process.
16. Additionally, the Commission was briefed by representatives from the American Association for the Advancement of Scienceon the use of geospatial technology in the investigation of human rights violations. 17. The Commission expresses its sincere and profound gratitude to the Government and People of the Republic of Rwanda for the hospitality extended to the Members of the Commission during the 16th Extra-Ordinary Session.
Done in Kigali, Rwanda during the 16th Extra-Ordinary Session of theCommission, from 20 to 29 July 2014
