The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) meeting at its 11th Extra-Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 21 February to 1 March 2012;
Recognising its promotion and protection mandate pursuant to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling the decision at its 50th Ordinary Session, held in Banjul, The Gambia from 24 October to 5 November 2011, to establish a Working Group on Communications in accordance with Rule 23(1) of its Rules of Procedure;
Noting Resolution ACHPR/Res.194 (L) 11: Establishing a Working Group on Communications and Appointment of Members, adopted at its 50th Ordinary Session; ;
Hereby decides that the mandate of the Working Group on Communications will be to:
1. Consider Communications at the level of Seizure and inform the African Commission;
2. Consider Communications on Admissibility, and formulate recommendations to the African Commission, and where necessary, consider Communications on Merits;
3. Inform the African Commission on the status of Communications at all stages of the procedure;
4. Inform the African Commission on the status of implementation of its decisions on Communications;
5. Examine Communications to be referred to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and make recommendations to the African Commission;
6. Advise the Bureau of the African Commission on requests for Provisional Measures made by Parties , where necessary;
7. Advise the African Commission on the withdrawal or closure of Communications;
8. Advise the African Commission on the need to grant oral hearings, if necessary;
9. Ensure that the final versions of decisions accurately reflect the comments and observations of Members of the African Commission.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 1 March 2012
