Daily Note of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Monday, 24 October 2011
Item 1: Opening Ceremony (Public Session)
A speech was delivered by:
Honourable Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou, outgoing Chairperson of the African Commission
Mrs Hannah Foster, Chair, NGOs Steering Committee and Executive Director, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
Mrs. Lindiwe Mokate Representative of National Human Rights Institutions from the South African Human Rights Commission
Dr Salah Hammad on behalf of H.E. Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner Commissioner for Political Affairs at the African Union Commission
Honorable Judge Fatsah Ouguergouz, representing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Representative of AU Member States, Honorable Edouard Nduwimana, Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Burundi
Opening Speech by Honorable Edward Gomez, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of The Gambia
Item 2: Swearing-in of new Commissioners (Public Session)
Mrs. Maya Sahli Fadel from Algeria, Mr. Med Kaggwa from Uganda and Mr. Pacifique Manirakiza from Burundi were sworn in as new members of the Commission
Mrs. Reine Alapini-Gansou was also sworn-in for a second term
Item 3: Election of the Bureau (Private Session)
The Commission elected Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki and Commissioner Zainabou Silvie Kayitesi as the new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Commission respectively.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda (Private Session)
The Commission adopted its agenda with amendments.
Item 5: Organization of Work (Private Session)
Morning Session: 9:00 – 13:00
Afternoon Session: 15:00 – 19:00
Fridays
Morning Session: 9:00 – 13:00
Afternoon Session: Free
Sundays
Morning Session: Free
Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 19:00
The Commission has also decided to end the Session on 5 November because of the Muslim Holiday of Tobaski which falls on the 6 and 7 November.
Item 6(a) – Statements by State Delegates
The following State Delegates made statements under this agenda item:
- Federal Democratic Republic of Nigeria
- Republic of Cote d’Ivoire
- Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Kingdom of Lesotho
- Arab Republic of Egypt
- Republic of Zimbabwe
Item 6(d) – Statements by National Human Rights Institutions
The Nigerian Human Rights Commission made a statement under this agenda item.
Daily Note of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Item 6(a) – Statements by State Delegates
The following State Delegates made statements under this agenda item:
- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- Islamic Republic of Mauritania
- Burkina Faso
- Republic of South Africa
- Republic of Senegal
- Republic of Tunisia
Item 6(c) – Statements by Inter-governmental and International Organizations
The following organizations made statements under this agenda item:
- International Committee of the Red Cross
- United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Item 6(e) – Statements by NGOs
The following NGOs made statements under this agenda item:
- Movement Burkinabe des Droits de l’Homme
- Africa Policy Oversight Forum
- Eastern Africa Journalists Association
- Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum
- Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation
- International Federation of Human Rights
- East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders
- Open Society of Southern Africa
- Community Law Centre
- Association for the Prevention of Torture
- Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
- RADO and African Centre for Peace and Justice Studies
- Minority Rights Group
- Defenders International
- AJPD
- Ipass
- Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa
- South African Litigation Centre
- West African Human Rights Defenders Network
- The Secretariat of the African Decade of Peoples with Disabilities
- Danish Institute for Human Rights
- French old lady
- Community of Rwandan Potters (COPORWA)
- Prison Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA)
- Association des femmes Chefs de famille Mauritanie
- Human Rights Institute of South Africa
- International Service for Human Rights
- Legal Resource Centre
- Togolese Human Rights League
- Alliances for Africa
- AIPD
- FONDH
- Le Comite de Solidarite avec les Victims de Violations des Driots de l’Homme en Mauritanie
- CFDA
- Association Mauritanie des Driots de l’Homme
- Amnesty International
- FIACAT
- League Mozambique for Human Rights
- Right to Enforcement and Public Law Centre
- SOS Esclaves
- Right to Information Initiative
- Interights
- Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya
- UNIPROBA
The following states exercised their right of reply:
- Islamic Republic of Mauritania
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
Daily Note of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Item 6(e) – Statements by NGOs
CIRAC made a statement under this agenda item.
Following the interventions by NGOs under agenda item 6(e), the following States exercised their right of reply:
- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- Islamic Republic of Mauritania
- Arab Republic of Egypt
- Republic of South Africa
- Republic of Zimbabwe
Item 7: Cooperation and Relationship with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (Public Session)
a) Relationship between the ACHPR and NHRIs
Honourable Commissioner Med Kaggwa introduced this agenda item.
Following the Commissioners presentation, the International Service for Human Rights made an intervention.
a) Cooperation between the ACHPR and NGOs
i. Relationship with NGOs
Honourable Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor introduced this agenda item.
ii. Consideration of Applications for Observer Status from NGOs
The Commission granted Observer Status to the following NGOs:
- Gambia Press Union – Banjul, The Gambia
- East Africa Law Society – Arusha Tanzania
Item 8: Consideration of State Reports (Public Session)
a) Status of Submission of State Party Reports
The agenda item was introduced by Honourable Commissioner Maiga.
The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in Africa made statement.
b) Consideration of the:
i. Periodic Report of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Nigerian Delegation presented the state’s periodic report, and questions were asked by members of the Commission to which the Nigerian Delegation responded to
