MEDIA ADVISORY
79th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
(Hybrid)
Convened in terms of Article 64 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, read together with Rules 27 and 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the ACHPR, 2020
INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA
WHAT: The 79th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights (Hybrid with Commissioners and ACHPR Secretariat in Gambia and participants online)
WHEN: Opening Ceremony: Tuesday, 14th May 2024, 09:00 – 11: 30 Hours (Banjul Time)
Public Session (Hybrid): 14th May – 24th May 2024
Mondays -Thursdays & Saturdays: 09:00 – 13:30 Hours (Banjul Time)
Friday: 09:00 – 13:00hours
Format: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights wishes to inform all stakeholders that the 79th Ordinary (Public) Session will be held in a hybrid format, with only the Commissioners and Secretariat staff attending in person. All other participants will join remotely/online, through the Zoom link provided below:: https://tinyurl.com/prnezx5e
Private Session: 25th May – 2nd June 2024
Public Session: Closing Ceremony (Hybrid): 3rd June 2024, 10:00 – 11:30 Hours (Banjul Time)
VENUE: Bakadaji Hotel, Bertil, Harding Highway, Kololi , Serekunda, Gambia
WHO: Media Representatives
Journalists who wish to participate in the Public Session and the Press Conference after the Closing Ceremony on the 3rd June 2024 must submit questions in advance on the ACHPR website using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/XHn4vMqBrq
Media colleagues should indicate their full names, the names of their media organizations and their contact details.
INFORMATION NOTE:
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is the premier human rights body of the African Union, established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), the founding treaty of the African Human Rights system, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.
2. The ACHPR is an autonomous treaty body of the African Union, and is composed of eleven (11) Commissioners pursuant to Article 31 of the African Charter, who are elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The Commissioners sit in their personal capacity and in an independent and impartial manner.
3. The mandate of the ACHPR is defined in Article 45 of the African Charter and includes: the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights on the continent; the interpretation of any provision of the African Charter, at the request of a State Party, an OAU institution or an African Organization recognized by the African Union; and the formulation of principles and rules on fundamental freedoms on which African governments can base their legislation.
4. The ACHPR meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions. Since its inception, the ACHPR has held seventy-six (78) Ordinary Sessions and thirty-five (37) Extraordinary Sessions.
5. The 79th Ordinary Session, to be conducted in a hybrid format, with the Bureau, commissioners, and members of the Secretariat on ground in the Gambia and participants joining online via Zoom, from 14 May 2024- 3rd June 2024. The session will deliberate in depth on human rights issues in Africa and review Activity Reports of the Members of the Commission & Special Mechanisms. Featuring also on the agenda, is the Rapport and Cooperation with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOS) and the Consideration of Applications for Observer and Affiliate Status
6. The Commission, in commemoration of the UN convention against Torture and 20 years of Committee for Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA) will host a Panel of the CPTA on Wednesday the 15th of May 2024.
7. On Friday the 17th of May, the Panel Discussion on Female Genital Mutilation in West Africa will sit and Launch of the 2nd Edition of the Maputo@20 Newsletter of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa.
8. In accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter, which requires States Parties to submit Periodic Reports to the ACHPR every two years, the Commission will also examine a State Periodic Report of the Republic of Mozambique.
9. Thereafter, the ACHPR will retreat into Private Sittings where it will deliberate on and take decisions on various reports, and on registered complaints of human rights violations [Communications].
NOTE FOR EDITORS:
Further information on the ACHPR can be obtained from the ACHPR’s website at www.achpr.org
1. For more comments, Mrs. Abiola Idowu- Ojo , Achpr.stcincoming@africa-union.org
2. For media interested in participating, please contact: Ms. Samantha Kambule,
E-mail: kambules@africa-union.org
3. For documentation and materials, please contact: Ms Coumba Sonko
sonkoc@africa-union.org
