The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) meeting at its 46th Ordinary Session held from 11 – 25 November 2009, in Banjul, The Gambia:
Recalling its mandate to promote human and peoples’ rights and ensure their protection in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Reaffirming the importance of observing the objectives and principles of the African Charter for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all, including those of detainees and prisoners;
Recalling its decision taken at its 20th Ordinary Session held in Grand Bay, Mauritius in October 1996 to establish the office and to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, as a prison monitoring mechanism;
Recalling further its decision taken at its 38th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia in November/December 2005 to appoint Commissioner Mumba Malila as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa;
Bearing in mind Resolution ACHPR/Res.126(XXXXII)07 on the Appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa adopted at the 42nd Ordinary Session held from 15 – 28 November 2007, in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo;
Considering that the term of Commissioner Mumba Malila as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa comes to an end on 5 December 2009;
Noting with Appreciation the work that Commissioner Mumba Malila has done as Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa;
Emphasising the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur and calling on all its partners to collaborate in the search for solutions to the problems arising from the restriction of the freedom of the individual;
Decides to appoint Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa for a period of two years, effective 5 December 2009.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 25 November 2009.
