23 November 2023, Banjul, The Gambia – The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Secretariat) wishes to inform the general public that the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa (the Working Group) did successfully conduct a meeting to validate the study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa from 20-21 November 2023 in Windhoek, Namibia.
The overall objective of the meeting was to consider whether the study provides a complete and nuanced understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa and whether it informs targeted interventions and policies to support their welfare and resilience for likely challenges in the future.
Under the leadership of the Chairperson of both the Working Group and Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV, the Honourable Commissioners attended the meeting, Expert Members of the Working Group, various human rights stakeholders from across the African continent, and members of the Secretariat who served it. The Validation Meeting provided an opportunity to precisely assess the extent to which the study provided the basis for evidence-based recommendations to enhance the resilience of indigenous Populations/Communities.
In a nutshell, and given the discussions held, the study was validated subject to the inclusion of case studies per region to buttress the report and harmonize information on COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS.
Issued by the Secretariat
The Secretariat, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Lay-out, Kombo North District Western Region.
PO Box 673
Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: 220 4410505/6
Email:au-banjul@africa-union.org
