Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, a national of Mauritius, was elected as a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in October 2021 and sworn into office on 15 November 2021. She is the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa; Vice-Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa; Member of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa; and member of the Resolutions Committee.

She is a lawyer with great expertise in International Maritime Law. She currently works as a Parliamentary Counsel in the Attorney General’s Office. Her areas of experience include representing the State in court cases, tendering advice to various Ministries and drafting legislation.

Honourable Topsy-Sonoo works in English but is also highly proficient in French.

Special Mechanisms Appointments

Session	Special Mechanisms	Role/Functions	Resolutions	Start Date	End Date	Type
69th Ordinary Session	Committee on Resolutions	Committee Member	Resolution on the Reconstitution of the Committee on Resolutions - ACHPR/Res. 496 (LXIX)2021	Nov 15, 2021		New
69th Ordinary Session	Working Group on Death Penalty, Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa	Working Group Member	Resolution on the Reconstitution of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa - ACHPR/Res. 500 (LXIX)2021	Nov 15, 2021		New
69th Ordinary Session	Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations	Working Group Member	Resolution on the Reconstitution of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa - ACHPR/Res. 503 (LXIX)2021	Nov 15, 2021	Nov 09, 2022	New
69th Ordinary Session	Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information	Special Rapporteur	Resolution on the Appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa - ACHPR/Res. 504 (LXIX)2021	Nov 15, 2021		New
69th Ordinary Session	Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters	Committee Member	Resolution on the Reconstitution of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters - ACHPR/Res. 498 (LXIX)2021	Dec 05, 2021		New
73rd Public Ordinary Session	Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information	Special Rapporteur	Resolution on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa - ACHPR/Res.528 (LXXIII) 2022	Nov 09, 2022		Renewal
73rd Public Ordinary Session	Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Staff Matters	Committee Member	Resolution on the renewal of the mandate and reconstitution of the Advisory Committee on Budgetary and Personnel Matters - ACHPR/Res.536 (LXXIII) 2022	Nov 09, 2022		Renewal
73rd Public Ordinary Session	Committee on Resolutions	Committee Member	Resolution on the Reconstitution of the Resolutions Committee - ACHPR/Res.537 (LXXIII) 2022	Nov 09, 2022		Renewal

Session	Roles/Functions	Start Date	End Date	Type
69th Ordinary Session	Commissioner	Nov 15, 2021		New