The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 81st Ordinary Session, held from 17 October to 6 November 2024, in Banjul, The Gambia:
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling also the obligations of States Parties under Articles 10 and 11 of the African Charter and the relevant provisions of regional and international human rights instruments, in particular the obligation to guarantee freedom of association and assembly for Human Rights Defenders;
Further recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.69 (XXXV) 04 on the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, adopted at the 35th Ordinary Session held from 21 May to 4 June 2004 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Bearing in mind its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.104(XXXXI) 07, ACHPR/Res.119 (XXXXII) 07, ACHPR/Res.196(L) 2011, ACHPR/Res.345(LVIII) 2016 and ACHPR/Res.376(LX) 2017 on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Considering Resolutions ACHPR/Res.83 (XXXVIII) 05, ACHPR/Res.149 (XLVI) 09, ACHPR/Res.171 (XLVII) 10, ACHPR/Res.202 (L) 11 and ACHPR/Res.381(LXI) 2017 appointing various Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Considering also its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.125 (XXXXII) 07 and ACHPR/Res.248 (LIV) 13 ACHPR/Res.425 (LXV) 2019, ACHPR/Res.451 (LXVI) 2020 and ACHPR/Res.526 (LXXIII) 2022 on the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Considering further its Resolution ACHPR/Res.273 (LV)14 on extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa to cases of reprisals, adopted at the 55th Ordinary Session held from 28 April to 12 May 2014 in Luanda, Angola;
Considering also that in the Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action, the Organisation of African Unity (African Union) called on Member States “to take appropriate measures to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders”;
Noting with satisfaction the work accomplished by Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu and all the former Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa in carrying out their mandates;
Underscoring the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur in seeking solutions to the problems brought about as a result of protecting Human Rights Defenders and promoting their role on the Continent, and the need to enable him to continue to exercise his mandate in accordance with Resolutions ACHPR/Res.69(XXXV) 04 and ACHPR/Res.273 (LV).14;
Decides to renew the mandate of Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu as Special Rapporteur on the rights of Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa for a period of two (2) years, from 6 November 2024.
Done at Banjul, The Gambia, 6 November 2024
