1. The Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa (the Working Group) held its meeting from 19 to 20 April 2015, in Banjul, The Gambia.
2. The members of the Working Group who took part in the meeting were :
· Honourable Commissioner Mohamed Béchir Khalfallah, Chairman of the Working Group ;
· Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel ;
· Prof. Frans Viljoen;
· Mr. Chafi Bakari;
· Mr. Gaye Sowe;
· Madam Salima Namusobya;
· Madam Nadia Ait-Zai;
· Mr. Martial Jeugue Doungue;
· Madam Helene Ramos dos Santos.
3. The following members of the Working Group were absent with apologies :
· Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maiga ;
· Mr. Ibrahima Kane ;
· Mr. Sidi Tidiane Gueye.
4. The deliberations of this meeting were chaired by Honourable Commissioner Mohamed Béchir Khalfallah, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Working Group.
5. In his opening address, the Chairman of the Working Group welcomed the newly-appointed Expert members. He further expressed his gratitude to persons present for taking part in the meeting in spite of their numerous commitments.
6. The Working Group appointed four focal points into the Group to facilitate the execution of the various activities scheduled in the 2015-2018 plan of action as well as the implementation of the mandate conferred on the Group by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) pursuant to the different resolutions.
7. The Working Group considered and finalised the documents on the continental conference on « the right to education for all : priorities and challenges for Post-2015 Africa »
8. In order to enhance visibility, the Working Group identified the activities to be carried out as part of its participation in the celebration of the Year 2016 declared as « The Year of Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa with particular emphasis on Women’s Rights »
9. The Working Group reviewed the status of implementation concerning the preparation of a study on the impact of illicit capital flight on human rights in Africa and the development of Guidelines on the right to water pursuant to the Commission’s Resolutions ACHPR/Res.236 (LIII) 2013 and ACHPR/Res.300 (EXT.OS/XVI) 2014 respectively.
10. The members of the Working Group held a working session with Madam Sheila Keetaruth, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Eritrea, regarding the status of economic, social and cultural rights in this country.
11. Dr. Curtis Doebbler from the « International Lawyers.org » Organisation engaged the Working Group in discussions on the issue of climate change and its impact on economic, social and cultural rights.
12. The discussions with the Working Group also centred on cases pertaining to the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Chairman of the Working Group further expressed his profound concern about the various forms of violations perpetrated against migrants and refugees residing in the country and the repercussions on the economic and social rights of migrants. He therefore urged the South African Government to take all the necessary measures to immediately bring these violations to an end.
13. The meeting ended with the Chairman expressing a word of appreciation of the Working Group to members for their determination in promoting and protecting human rights in general, and economic, social and cultural rights, in particular.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 20 April 2015
