I.INTRODUCTION
1.The Republic of Togo is a State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), which it ratified on 5 November 1982.
2.The Republic of Togo presented its Combined (6th, 7th and 8th) Periodic Reports under Article 62 of the African Charter and the Initial Report under Article 26 of the Maputo Protocol during the 63rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), held from 24 October to 13 November 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia.
3.The Delegation of the Republic of Togo (the Delegation) was led by Honourable Kokouvi Agbetomey, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice and Relations with Institutions of the Republic.
4.The Delegation comprised:
i.Mrs Nakpa Polo, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice and Relations with the Institutions of the Republic;
ii.Mr Komlan A. Narteh-Messan, Chief of Staff of the Secretary of State in charge of Human Rights;
iii.Mrs Marcelline S. Mensah-Pierucci, Director-General for Democracy Consolidation at the Department of State in charge of Human Rights;
iv.Mrs Badabossia Azambo-Aquiteme, Director-General for Child Protection at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women’s Empowerment and Literacy, member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee responsible for drafting reports and monitoring the implementation of recommendations on human rights;
v.Commandant Kpatcha Melou, Adviser to the Minister of Security and Civil Protection, member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee responsible for drafting reports and monitoring the implementation of recommendations on human rights;
vi.Mrs Akossiwa Kafoyui Adzonyoh, Technical Adviser to the Deputy Minister in charge of Technical and Vocational Training at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee responsible for drafting reports and monitoring the implementation of recommendations; and
vii.Mrs Yawa Akontom, Human Resources Manager, in charge of training at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee responsible for drafting reports and monitoring the implementation of recommendations on human rights.
5.The Report underscores progress made by the Republic of Togo in the area of human and peoples’ rights as well as legislative, administrative and other measures taken to implement provisions of the African Charter, since Togo presented its Combined (3rd to 5th) Periodic Report at the 50th Ordinary Session held from 24 October to 5 November 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia.
6.The present Concluding Observations highlight the positive aspects, factors restricting the effective enjoyment of human rights and areas of concern regarding observance of human rights in the country in relation to the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol. The Commission further provides recommendations to the Government of Togo aimed at enhancing the enjoyment of human rights by the Togolese population.
7.The Commission commends the Delegation of the Republic of Togo for the open and constructive dialogue which prevailed during the presentation of the Combined Periodic Report and for the quality of the information provided in response to the concerns of the members of the Commission.
8.These Concluding Observations are divided into two parts. The first section relates to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights followed by recommendations, and the second part covers the Maputo Protocol followed also by recommendations.
