The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 66th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 13 July to 7 August 2020:
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of 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.69(XXXV) 04 on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, adopted at the 35th Ordinary Session held from 21 May to 4 June 2004, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Bearing in mind its Resolution ACHPR/Res.83(XXXVIII) 05 appointing the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, adopted at the 38th Ordinary Session held from 21 November to 5 December 2005, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Further recalling its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.119(XXXXII) 07 and ACHPR/Res.192 (L) 11 on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Considering Resolutions ACHPR/Res.83 (XXXVIII) 05, ACHPR/Res.149 (XLVI) 09, ACHPR/Res.171 (XLVII) 10, ACHPR/Res.202 (L) 11 and ACHPR/Res.381(LXI) 2017 appointing the various Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Bearing in mind its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.125(XXXXII) 07 and ACHPR/Res.248 (LIV) 13 ACHPR/Res.425 (LXV) 2019, on the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;
Bearing in mind also that in the Grand Bay Declaration and Plan of Action (Mauritius), the Organization of African Unity (African Union) urged Member States "to take appropriate measures to implement the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders";
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.273 (LV)14 on the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa to cases of reprisals, adopted at the 55th Ordinary Session from 28 April to 12 May 2014 in Luanda, Angola;
Noting with satisfaction the work accomplished by Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu in his capacity as Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa;
Considering the new responsibilities of the Special Rapporteur as focal point on reprisals against human rights defenders in Africa;
Noting the Final Communiqué of the 28th Extraordinary Session held from 29 June to 1 July 2020 wherein responsibilities were assigned to Commissioners;
Decides to renew the mandate of Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africafor a period of two (2) years, with effect from 1 July 2020.
Done virtually, 07 August 2020
