Resolution on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa - ACHPR/Res.315(LVII)2015

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, meeting at its 57^th 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; 

Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.69 (XXXV) 04 on the protection of human rights defenders in Africa adopted at its 35^th Ordinary Session held from 21 May to 4 June 2004 in Banjul, The Gambia;

Bearing in mind its Resolution ACHPR/Res.83(XXXVIII) 05 on the appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa adopted at its 38^th 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 its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.125 (XXXXII) 07 and ACHPR/Res.248 (LIV) 13 on the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;  

Bearing in mind its Resolutions ACHPR/Res.83 (XXXVIII) 05, ACHPR/Res.149 (XLVI) 09, ACHPR/Res.171 (XLVII) 10 and ACHPR/Res.202 (L) 11 appointing the various Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders in Africa;

Bearing in mind also that in the Grand Bay Declaration and Plan of Action (Mauritius), the Organisation of African Unity (African Union) called on 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 expansion of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa to include reprisals, adopted at the 55^th Ordinary Session held from 28 April to 12 May 2014 in Luanda, Angola;

Noting with appreciation the work undertaken by Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa; 

Considering the new responsibilities of the Special Rapporteur as the focal person for cases of reprisals against human rights defenders in Africa;

Decides to renew the mandate of Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa for a period of two (2) years, with effect from 18 November 2015.  

Adopted on 17 November 2015 at the 57^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held from 4 to 18 November 2015 in Banjul, The Gambia