Windhoek 2 July 2022: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) through its subsidiary 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), jointly organized the Second Joint Continental Seminar on the Right to Health and Social Protection in Africa, from 27 to 29 June 2022 ; and the Second Continental Conference on ‘The impact of COVID-19 on HIV Responses in Africa, from 30 June to 2 July 2022, in Windhoek, Namibia.
H.E. Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Services of the Republic of Namibia graced the occasion and opened both Conferences. Other Senior Government officials of the Government of Namibia, also took part in the two Conferences.
The First Joint Continental Seminar on the Right to Health and Social Protection in Africa and the First Continental Conference on the Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Responses in Africa were held from 8 to 10 December 2021, in Dakar, Senegal and 15 – 17 March 2022 in Saly, Senegal, respectively.
The Seminar and Conference was attended and facilitated by Honourable Commissioners Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga, Janet Ramatoulie Sallah Njie,and 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.
The two Conferences adopted Communiques that called on State Parties to the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Commission, National Human Rights Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, and development partners to amongst other things:
- Promote the expeditious signing, ratification, domestication, and implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security;
- Encourage domestic resource mobilization and invest sustainably, transparently, effectively and efficiently in health-systems strengthening and pandemic preparedness;
- Mainstream the rights and needs of PLHIV and other key populations in the responses to COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 recovery measures;
- Effectively address illicit financial flows from Africa and end the “race to the bottom” preferential tax system regime to multinational cooperation;
- Invest in domestic production of health products and services and safe and effective indigenous medical products and services;
- Review existing laws and policies and enact new laws when necessary to decriminalize, stigmatization, and facilitate integrated and coordinated service delivery to PLHIV and those at risk, vulnerable to and affected by HIV, as well as other vulnerable groups and key populations;
- Establish and adequately fund institutions and mechanisms that provide oversight and services to PLHIV and those at risk, vulnerable to and affected by HIV, as well as other vulnerable groups and key population; and
- Invest in the generation, dissemination of and access to evidence-based, factual, easily accessible and community and people-centred information on the HIV and Covid-19 laws, policies, programmes and services.
The Key Conclusions and Recommendations of the Second Joint Continental Seminar on the Right to Health and Social Protection in Africa and the Second Continental Conference on ‘The impact of COVID-19 on HIV Responses in Africa’ will be available on the Commission’s website and also widely disseminated.
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
