21 October 2015 marks 29 years since the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter). Adopted on 27 June 1981, the Charter enshrines principles, standards, fundamental rights and values to be implemented for the individual and collective wellbeing of people across the African continent.
On 21 October 1986, in accordance with Article 63(3) of the Charter, the Charter became binding on all States Parties, constituting a significant step in the area of the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.
In its very first Resolution following its establishment, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) called on Member States of the African Union and the relevant stakeholders to commemorate Africa Human Rights Day on October 21 of every year. The call was heeded and ever since Africa Human Rights Day has become one of the days recognised and celebrated in Africa.
This year’s event is celebrated under the theme: “The Promotion of Women’s Rights is a Shared Value in Africa”. The theme was chosen in accordance with the concept of “shared values” adopted by the African Union in 2012, an initiative aimed at promoting dialogue among all citizens of the continent, with the aim of achieving our pan-African organisation’s goal of Africa’s complete integration and unity.
These shared values include the notions of equality, equity, justice, tolerance, participation in governance, self-reliance, care for the weakest and adherence to the rule of law. The principles of gender equality and rights of women are shared values which undergird and cut across all the shared values.
The theme chosen for this year is a foretaste of next year’s commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Charter under the theme: “African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women”. Several activities will be organised to commemorate 2016 and reflect on the African system for promoting and protecting human rights. Amongst other things, `an assessment will be made to highlight the achievements as well as the areas in need of improvement within the human rights system in order to prepare a roadmap for enhancing the system.
On the occasion of this year’s Africa Human Rights Day celebrated at a time when the rights of women are a prominent feature, it should be noted that despite the progress made regarding the enjoyment of women’s rights in many countries and sectors, millions of women across Africa continue to face several challenges, such as gender-based violence and discrimination, insufficient women’s representation in decision-making institutions, extremely poor economic and social conditions, unequal pay between men and women for the same work, violence against women and their continuing insecurity.
On this occasion of Africa Human Rights Day, the Commission would like to express its sympathy to all the women and young girls who are suffering as a result of the various crises and conflicts in Africa, and to recall in particular the Chibok girls who were abducted in Nigeria and have been held captive by the terrorist group Boko Haram since April 2014, the thousands of migrants who have embarked on the hazardous journey across the Mediterranean in search for better living conditions, the women and young girls trapped by the brutal actions of radical and extremist groups which target women and young girls. Over and above this, harmful practices against women and other discriminations that go with patriarchal societies seem impervious to the efforts deployed thus far to remove them.
The Commission would therefore like to seize the occasion of this African Human Rights Day to appeal to all Member States and the other stakeholders to continue to promote the systematic integration of women’s rights and gender mainstreaming in all aspects of society and development, at the continental, regional and national levels to make all these negatives a thing of the past.
For its part, the Commission will remain faithful to its mandate to promote and protect human rights on the continent and will continue to interpret, develop and promote legal standards that are tailored to the needs of African women in order for women to participate fully in Africa’s development through the integration and unity of all African countries.
African Human Rights Day 2015 is an appropriate occasion for the Commission to call on all Member States and the all stakeholders to work together towards making the celebration of 2016 as the African Year of Human Rights a resounding success, and an opportunity for reiterating Africa’s commitment to make the effective enjoyment of human rights a reality for all.
The Commission wishes everyone a happy Africa Human Rights Day.
Banjul, 21 October 2015
Honourable Commissioner Zainabo Sylvie Kayitesi
Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
