5 December 2016, Banjul, The Gambia - The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Secretariat) wishes to inform the general public that the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa ( the Special Rapporteur) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) in partnership with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF), Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and Open Society Foundations (OSF) will be organizing a Regional Consultation Meeting on the Zero Draft Principles on the Declassification and Decriminalization of Petty Offences in Africa, from 5 to 6 December 2016, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Meeting, which is part of the promotion mandate of the Commission, is being organized within the framework of Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter).
Over the past 10 years, the African Commission has developed a body of regional standards that articulate acceptable practice and encourage domestic law reform in relation to human rights and access to justice. Moreover, the Commission has recognized that the declassification and decriminalization of petty offences is an important human rights issue and consequently, the Special Rapporteur with the support of its partners, developed a Zero Draft Principle on the Declassification and Decriminalization of Petty Offences in Africa. The Draft Principles will provide State Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights with a normative standard against which laws that criminalize petty offences can be reviewed and revised, to ensure the enjoyment of African Charter rights equally by all persons.
The Regional Consultation Meeting on the Zero Draft Principles on the Declassification and Decriminalization of Petty Offences in Africa is being organised to provide key stakeholders from across Africa with an opportunity to review the draft text and to provide their expert opinion and commentary.
Honourable Commissioners Med S. K. Kaggwa, Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa and Honourable Commissioner Jameina King, Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, will be attending the Consultation. Other participants include: Other participants include: Representatives from the Judiciary, National Human Rights Institutions, Academic institutions and Civil Society Organisations. The Consultation will be assisted by staff of the Commission’s Secretariat.
For further information, please contact:
Mrs. Aminata Jawara Manga
The Secretariat of the African Commission
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District
Western Region,
P.O Box 673,
Banjul, The Gambia.
Tel: +220 4410505/6
Fax: +220 4410504
Email: mangaa@africa-union.org
