The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 81st Ordinary Session, held from 17th October to 6th November 2024 in Banjul, The Gambia
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.73 (XXXVI) 04 Establishing and defining the Mandate of the Working Group on Economic and Social Rights in Africa (the Working Group) adopted at its 36th Ordinary Session held in Dakar, Senegal, from 23rd November to 7th December 2004;
Recalling further its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.147 (XLVI) 09; ACHPR/Res.193 (L) 11; ACHPR/Res.252 (LIV) 13, ACHPR/Res.296 (EXT.OS/XVI) 14; ACHPR/Res.316 (LVII) 2015; ACHPR/Res.391(LXI) 2017; ACHPR/Res.425(LXV)2019; and ACHPR/Res. 457 (LXVI) 2020; ACHPR/Res.532 (LXXIII) 2022; ACHPR/Res.562 (LXXV) 2023; ACHPR.Res.587(LXXIX) 2024 on the appointment, reconstitution and substitution of Members and Expert Members as well as the renewal of the mandate of the Working Group respectively;
Bearing in mind the Principles and Guidelines on the Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the African Charter (Nairobi Principles and Guidelines) and the State Party Reporting Guidelines for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the African Charter (Tunis Reporting Guidelines);
Recalling Resolutions mandating the Working Group to undertake various tasks such as Resolution ACHPR/Res.236 (LIII) 13, to undertake an in-depth study on the impact of illicit capital flight on human rights in Africa; Resolution ACHPR/Res. 342(LVIII) 2016, to undertake a Study on the impact of climate change on human rights in Africa; and Resolution ACHPR/Res.300 (EXT.OS/XVI) 14, to develop Principles and Guidelines on the Right to Water, in order to assist States in implementing their obligations in relation to the right to water;
Recalling further Resolution ACHPR/Res. 434 (EXT.OS/ XXVI1) 2020, on the need to develop norms on States ‘obligations to regulate private actors involved in the provision of social services; Resolution ACHPR/Res. 446 (LXVI) 2020, on the need to conduct a joint Study on the Right to Health and its Financing in Africa in collaboration with UNAIDS; Resolution ACHPR/Res.561 (LXXV) 2023, on the need to develop a Study on ‘Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and National Sustainable Development Processes in Africa; and Resolution ACHPR.Res.579(LXXVIII)2024 on the development of Guidelines on the Protection of the Rights of Workers in the Informal Economy Sector in Africa;
Bearing in mind the Standard Operating Procedures on the Special Mechanisms of the Commission adopted by the Commission at its 27th Extraordinary Session held from 19th February to 4th March 2020;
Noting with appreciation the work done by the Working Group under the leadership of its various respective Chairpersons in the discharge of its mandate since its establishment;
Noting also that the mandate of the Working Group, its Members and Expert Members has come to an end as of the date hereof;
Recognizing the importance of the mandate and effort of the Working Group in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights in Africa and the need to enable the Working Group to continue to implement its mandate;
Decides to:
1. Renew the mandate of the Working Group for another period of two years, with effect from 6th November 2024;
2. Renew the mandate of Members of the Working Group as follows for the same period:
a) Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga, as Chairperson;
b) Commissioner Selma Sassi Safer, as Vice-Chairperson; and
c) Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, as a Member.
3. Renew the mandate of the following Expert Members for the same period:
a) Ms. Salima Namusobya, (East Africa);
b) Prof. Frans Jacobus Viljeon, (Southern Africa);
c) Ms. Delphine Aimée Nkengue, (Central Africa);
d) Ms. Haddy Dandeh-Jabbie, (West Africa); and
e) Mr. Ashraf Ruxi, (North Africa).
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 6th November 2024
