The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (The Commission) informs the general public that, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Gabon, a delegation from the Commission shall undertake a human rights promotion mission to the Republic of Gabon from 13 to 18 January 2014. The delegation shall be composed of:
- Honourable Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie, Chairperson of the Commission and Commissioner in charge of monitoring the promotion and protection of human rights in Gabon (head of delegation) ;
- Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights in Africa ;
- Honourable Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza, Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries and Human Rights Violations in Africa.
This mission is being conducted within the framework of the promotion mandate conferred on the Commission under Article 45 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (The African Charter). The objectives, among others, consist of promoting the African Charter, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women (the Maputo Protocol) and other regional and universal legal instruments relating to human rights; strengthening the relations between the Commission and the Republic of Gabon in the area of promoting and protecting human rights as enshrined in the African Charter, including other relevant legal instruments ; collecting all other relevant information, specifically on the human rights situation of women and children, Elderly Persons and persons with disabilities as well as the indigenous population of Gabon; it also includes assessing the level of enjoyment of human rights by the people of Gabon as guaranteed by the African Charter, the legislative and other measures taken by the Government towards their effective implementation, and where necessary, identifying existing challenges encountered; visiting the prisons and other detention facilities in order to assess the prevailing conditions therein as far as the Republic of Gabon is concerned; etc.
In the course of the mission, the members of the delegation will meet key stakeholders involved in human rights promotion and protection, in particular civil servants working in the ministries and national institutions, civil society organisations, including women’s organisations engaged in the promotion of women’s rights as well as other advocates working on human rights-related issues in Gabon.
At the end of the mission, the preliminary observations will be presented to the competent authorities and a press conference organised. The delegation will present the conclusions of the mission in a comprehensive report to be submitted to the Commission during the 55th Ordinary Session which will be held from 28th April to 12 May, 2014 in Luanda, Angola.
Done in Banjul, 24 December 2013
For more information, please contact the Secretariat of the Commission at the following address:
31 Bijilo Annex Lay-out, Kombo North District
Western Region
P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia
Tél: (+220) 441 05 05 /441 05 06
Fax: (+220) 441 05 04
Courriel : au-banjul@africa-union.org
