16 May 2022, Banjul, The Gambia - The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Secretariat) wishes to inform the general public that the Special Mechanisms (the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa; the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa; and the Committee on the Protection of People Living with HIV(PLHIV) those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), will be jointly organizing the following High Level Seminar and Conference, in Windhoek, Namibia:
1. Second Joint Continental Seminar on the Right to Health and Social Protection in Africa, from 26 to 28 May 2022 ; and
2. Second Continental Conference on ‘The impact of COVID-19 on HIV Responses in Africa, from 30 May to 1 June 2022.
The Seminar and Conference, which are part of the promotion mandate of the Commission, are being organized within the framework of Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) and funded by the European Union (EU) under the EU/AGA Support Project 2021-2023.
The overall objective of the Second Continental Seminar on the Right to Health and Social Protection in Africa, is to raise awareness and remind States Parties to the African Charter of their obligations under the Charter, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa and other relevant instruments towards the provision of adequate and affordable health care and social protection services as well as commit to give priority to health care and social protection by undertaking concrete legislative and other measures including reforms of their health sectors. Participants will be representatives from the Northern and Southern Africa mainly from the Ministries of Health and Social Protection, Women and Finance, Parliamentarians, Health Workers (Medical Doctors, Nurses, Services Providers, Paramedics/ Emergency Response Teams), Social Workers, Health Insurance Professionals, Lawyers, Members of the Judiciary, NHRIs, NGOs working on health care issues, NGOs involved in social matters and selected members of the community.
The overall objective of the Second Continental Conference on ‘The impact of COVID-19 on HIV Responses in Africa’ is to raise awareness and build knowledge on the importance of a human rights-based approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its significance for the protection of HIV-related human rights. The Committee on HIV also seeks to draw out lessons learnt from the HIV response in order to contribute to ongoing conversations on building resilience against future pandemics and other global health and development challenges. The Second Conference will focus on participants from Northern; Eastern and Central African regions: National Human Rights Institutions; Non-Governmental Organisations; UN Agencies; academia; Medical Practitioners; and selected stakeholders, able to enlighten the Committee on the impact of COVID-19 on the rights of PLHIV in Africa.
The Seminar and Conference will also be attended and facilitated by Honourable Commissioners Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga, Janet Ramatoulie Sallah Njie, Maria Teresa Manuela, Solomon Ayele Dersso, Expert Members of the Working Group on ECOSOC, Expert Members of the Committee on PLHIV, and staff of the Secretariat of the Commission.
For further information, please contact:
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
Fax: 220 4410504
E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org
