1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) held its 25th Extraordinary Session from 19 February to 05 March 2019 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia.
2. The Session was convened to consider items on its agenda, including Communications, the Draft Rules of Procedure, Strategic Planning for the year 2020 onwards as well as other urgent outstanding issues from its previous sessions.
3. The Session was chaired by Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, Chairperson of the Commission, assisted by Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute, Vice-Chairperson.
4. The 25th Extraordinary Session was attended by the following members of the
Commission:
i. Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maïga, Chairperson;
ii. Honourable Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute, Vice- Chairperson;
iii. Honourable Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie;
iv. Honourable Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen;
v. Honourable Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor;
vi. Honourable Commissioner Jamesina Essie L. King; vii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso; viii. Honourable Commissioner Essaiem Hatem;
ix. Honourable Commissioner Teresa Manuela; and
x. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu.
5. Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel was absent with apologies.
6. The Commission considered and adopted its agenda.
7. The Commission considered the Report of the Pre-Session Mission to the Arab Republic of Egypt, which was carried out from 30 January to 5 February 2019, as well as correspondences exchanged with the Arab Republic of Egypt during the course of this 25th Extraordinary Session, with a view to finalizing the hosting of the 64th Ordinary Session. The Commission confirmed that it will hold its 64th Ordinary Session from 24 April to 14 May 2019 in Sharm el Sheikh, The Arab Republic of Egypt.
8. The Commission considered and adopted its draft revised Rules of Procedure and decided that the Draft Rules should be submitted for consultation with State Parties and other stakeholders.
9. The Commission also considered and adopted the following documents:
i. Report of the Chairperson on the Meetings of the AU Policy Organs;
ii. Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Specific Issues Related to the work of the African Commission, held in Kigali, Rwanda in December 2018;
iii. The Commission’s Work Plan for 2019;
iv. Key Recommendations from the 30th Anniversary of the Commission that require action;
v. Report of the Committee on Administrative, Staff and Budgetary
Matters;
vi. Report on Communications Audit; and
vii. The Succession Plan for Recruitment of the Secretary to the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
10. The Commission considered and took decisions on the following:
i. The Working Modalities of the Commission;
ii. The submissions of the African Commission on the AU institutional reforms;
iii. The Proposed Revised Structure and Organogram of the Commission;
iv. The Draft Budget Framework Paper for 2020;
v. Update on the PANAF Project;
vi. The Invitation to Observe National and Provincial Elections in South
Africa;
vii. Presentation by the Human Rights Implementation Centre of the University of Bristol on research conducted on the Implementation of the Decisions of the Commission;
viii. Letter from the Head of the Universal Periodic Review Branch of the
United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights requesting information on the States to be considered during the next UPR Session; and
ix. Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and chair UNESCO des droits de la personne humaine et de la Démocratie of the University of Abomey-Calavi.
11. The Commission considered and deferred the adoption of the Draft
Guidelines on the Right to Water.
12. The Commission engaged with Consultants from the European Union regarding the preparation of the new AU-EU African Governance Architecture Project for 2020 to 2023.
13. The Commission considered its submissions for inclusion in the proposal on the emoluments of elected officials of African Union organs, for submission to the Joint Sitting of the PRC Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters and the Experts of M15.
14. The Commissioners and the Staff of the Commission received training from the African Union (AU) Commission Chief of Ethics on the AU Code of Ethics and Conduct as well as the Harassment Policy of the AU.
15. The Commission considered a total of thirty (30) Communications:
i. Nine (9) Communications on Seizure: the Commission decided to be seized of eight (8) and dismissed one (1). The Commission also granted two (2) requests for Provisional Measures and dismissed one (1) request;
ii. Seven (7) Communications on Admissibility: the Commission declared
three (3) admissible and deferred four (4);
iii. Two (2) Communication on the Merits: the Commission adopted one (1)
decision on the Merits and deferred one (1);
iv. Two (2) Communications for Strike-out: the Commission struck-out both Communications;
v. The Commission gave effect to the request for the withdrawal of one (1)
Communication; and
vi. It gave guidance on nine (9) Communications.
16. The Commission adopted a Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in the
Republic of The Sudan.
17. The Commission expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government and people of the Republic of The Gambia for the hospitality extended to members of the Commission during the 25th Extraordinary Session.
Done in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, 5 March 2019
