FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“the Commission”), through its subsidiary mechanism, namely the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa (“the Working Group”), organized an experts’ consultative meeting from 01 – 02 October 2018, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to consider a draft report of the Background Study on Extractive Industries, the Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa.
The Meeting was organised within the framework of Resolution 148 of the Commission on the Establishment of the Working Group, mandating the latter to prepare the Background Study to outline the state of extractive industries and human and peoples’ rights on the African continent and provide a roadmap for its work.
The Meeting had the objective, amongst others, of providing an opportunity for the Members of the Working Group and independent experts present, to review and give inputs for the improvement of the draft Study report, towards its finalization.
The Meeting was attended by the Chairperson and Members of the Working Group and independent experts, and was serviced by the Secretariat of the Commission.
After the two-day Meeting; participants acquired updated information on current issues relating to the extractive industries, human rights and the environment within the context of the African Charter and were able to deliberate on these issues; the draft Background Study report was updated; and the participants were able to agree on a roadmap for the finalization of the Study.
The Consultative Meeting was also followed by an Internal Meeting of the Working Group on 03 October 2018, to discuss updates and developments in its work.
Done in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this 3rd Day of October 2018
