The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 57th Ordinary Session, held from 4 to 18 November 2015, in Banjul, The Gambia
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/ 69 (XXXV) 04 of 4 June 2004 on the protection of human rights defenders in Africa, adopted at its 35th Ordinary Session, held from 21 May to 4 June 2004, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Further recalling its Resolutions ACHPR/Rés.119 (XXXXII) 07, ACHPR/ Rés.196 (L) 11, ACHPR/ 125 (XXXXII) 07 and ACHPR/Rés.248 (LIV) 13 relevant to the mandate and thesituation of human rights defenders in Africa;
Bearing in mind its Resolution ACHPR/ 273 (LV) 14 on the extension of the scope of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa to include reprisals against human rights defenders, adopted at its 55th Ordinary Session from 28 April to 12 May 2014, in Luanda, Angola;
Considering Resolution ACHPR/Res.151 (XLVI) 09 of 25 November 2009 on the need for the conduct of a study on freedom of association in Africa, adopted at its 46th Ordinary Session, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Considering Resolution ACHPR/Res.186 (XLIX) 11 of 12 May 2011 on the appointment of members for a Study Group on Freedom of Association in Africa, adopted at its 49thOrdinary Session, held from 28 April to 12 May 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Further considering Resolution ACHPR/Res.229 (LII) 12 of 22 October 2012 on the extension of the deadline for the study on freedom of association and extension of the scope of the study to include freedom of peaceful assembly in Africa, adopted at its 52nd Ordinary Session, held from 9 to 22 October 2012 in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast;
Recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res.261 (LIV) 13 of 5 November 2013 on the extension of the deadline for the study on freedom of association and assembly in Africa, adopted at its 54th Ordinary Session, held from 22 October to 5 November 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Bearing in mind that during the 56th Ordinary Session, held from 21 April to 7 May 2015 in Banjul, The Gambia, the Commission launched the Report of the Study Group on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa;
Further considering that the Report of the Study Group on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa, among others, recommends drafting and disseminating guidelines on the freedom of association and assembly;
Bearing in mind the interest of relevant stakeholders on the adoption of guidelines on freedom of association and assembly, by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
Decides to draft guidelines on freedom of association and assembly within a period of one (1) year, starting from 18 November 2015;
Decides to assign the task of drafting the said guidelines to the Study Group on Freedom of Association and Assembly, under the supervision of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Decides accordingly, to renew the mandate of the Study Group on Freedom of Association and Assembly for one (1) year, starting from 18 November 2015.
Adopted at the 57th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held from 4 to 18 November 2015 in Banjul, The Gambia
