Monday, 24 October 2016 (12:15-13:30 & 15:00-15:15)
Activity 1: Panel on Women and Extractive Industries (30 Minutes)
(i). Background:
1. Extractive industries are among those industries that have the most daily impact on our lives. While their activities are at the centre of economic development in most African countries, activities carried out by various actors involved in natural resource exploitation and extraction – including government entities and private companies; have led to complex violations and abuses affecting an array of human rights, the environment, and social and economic development, with long-term and sometimes irreversible effects on people living in and around project-affected areas.
2. While the impacts of extractive industry projects are often severe for entire communities, mining and oil extraction tend to negatively impact women disproportionately more. Women are most vulnerable to the negative impacts of these types of projects, because women typically are responsible for activities related to the natural resources that might be affected, as many women are involved in informal, unpaid economic activities, such as subsistence agriculture, fetching water and collecting firewood, all of which are affected by depletion of mineral resources and pollution of land and water, thus hindering the productive role of women in local communities. Also, women are often marginalized in decision-making processes regarding large-scale development projects or natural resource management and are excluded from the benefits of such development. Discrimination against women and a lack of respect for their non-paid labour is also acute in societies where male-dominated activities such as mining are at the centre of economic development schemes.
(ii). Objectives:
3. The theme on women and extractive industries at the Panel to be convened would therefore review and address the adverse gender impacts of extractive industries development in Africa, as well as the needs: to recognize women as key stakeholders in the management and development of natural resources and economic actors in their own right; and to mainstream gender considerations into all stages of extractive industries’ project cycles, so as to ensure and promote gender equality, women’s rights and female empowerment.
(iii) Theme:
4. The Panel will be held under the theme: “Women’s Rights in the Extractive Industries Sector in Africa”
(iv) Structure
- Welcome remarks and introduction of presenter – Commissioner Dersso (5 minutes)
- Introduction of the theme through the presentation of the a paper on Women’s Rights in the Extractive Industries Sector in Africa (10 minutes)
- Discussion moderated by Commissioner Dersso & Conclusions (15 minutes)
(v) Panelists:
i. Commissioner Dersso, Chairperson of the WGEI;
ii. Others, TBC
(vi) Methodology:
5. The presenters will be responsible for the ToRs, contents and formats of their presentations.
Activity 2: Panel on the Launch of the implementation of ACHPR Resolution 332, with a sub-thematic discussion on women in conflict situations in Africa (1 hour)
(i). Background:
6. During its 19th Extraordinary Session held in Banjul, the Gambia from 16 to 25 February 2016, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) adopted ACHPR/Res. 332 (EXT.OS/XIX) 2016 (Resolution 332). In this resolution addressing the theme of human rights in conflict situations, the Commission for the first time, laid the ground-work for reviewing its practice and developing a systematic, dynamic and comprehensive framework for addressing human rights issues in conflict situations. To this end, the Commission decided to ‘conduct a study on human rights in conflict situations in Africa’, and mandated the Chairperson of the WGEI – Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, as the focal point for this study. The concept note for the implementation of this Resolution (the Concept Note) has since been developed.
7. As the Commission commemorates the “African human rights year, with a particular focus on the rights of women”, the Chairperson of the WGEI will convene a Thematic Panel during the 59th Ordinary Session, to launch the project for the implementation of Resolution 332, with a sub-thematic session on “women in conflict situations in Africa”.
(ii). Objectives:
8. The launch of the project for the implementation of Resolution 332 through information sharing and discussions with stakeholders will offer the opportunity for validating the Concept Note and reviewing the project implementation plan; while the sub-thematic discussion on “women in conflict situations in Africa”, will provide the opportunity to examine the subject through the lenses of women’s rights, by reviewing the peculiar challenges faced by women in conflict situations, given that African women and girls, who are already vulnerable in times of peace, pay a heavier price in conflict situations, as their vulnerabilities are increased due to the resultant break down in societal norms, poverty, powerlessness, social instability displacement, and the strategic rape and other forms of sexual abuse as weapons of war, amongst others.
(iii) Theme:
9. The Panel will be held under the theme: “Launch of the implementation of ACHPR Resolution 332, with a sub-thematic discussion on women in conflict situations in Africa”
(iv) Structure
- Welcome remarks and introduction of panellists – Commissioner Dersso (3 minutes)
- Presentation of the Concept Note on the project for the implementation of Resolution 332 (7 minutes)
- Discussion moderated by Commissioner Dersso & Conclusions (10 minutes)
- Launch of the on the project for the implementation of Resolution 332 (5 minutes)
- Presentation(s) on Women in Conflict Situations in Africa (25 minutes)
- Discussions moderated by Commissioner Dersso & Conclusions (10 minutes)
(v) Panelists:
i. Commissioner Dersso - Chairperson of the WGEI;
ii. Mr. Felipe Donoso - Head, ICRC Delegation to the African Union & International Organisations in Africa (TBC);
iii. Mr. Japhet Biegon - Africa Regional Advocacy Coordinator, Amnesty International; and
iv. Ms. Nonhlanhla Sibanda - Gender Specialist, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
(vi) Methodology:
10. Each Panellist will be responsible for the ToRs, contents and formats of their presentations.
