The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) meeting at its 54th Ordinary Session held from 22 October to 5 November 2013, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Recalling its mandate to promote human and peoples’ rights and ensure their protection in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Reaffirming the importance of observing the objectives and principles of the African Charter for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all, including those of detainees and prisoners;
Recalling its decision taken at its 20th Ordinary Session held in Grand Bay, Mauritius in October 1996 to establish the office and to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, as a prison monitoring mechanism;
Further recalling its decision taken at its 38th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia in November/December 2005 to appoint the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa;
Bearing in mind Resolution ACHPR/Res.126 (XXXXII) 07 on the Appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa adopted at the 42nd Ordinary Session held from 15 – 28 November 2007, in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo;
Considering Resolution ACHPR/Res.156 (XLVI) 09, adopted during the 46th Ordinary Session held from 11 to 25 November 2011 appointing Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki Special Rapporteur of Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa;
Further considering Resolution ACHPR/Res.206 (L) 11 on the appointment of Commissioner Med Kaggwa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, adopted at the 50th Ordinary Session held from 24 October to 5 November 2011, in Banjul, The Gambia;
Bearing in mind the Resolution ACHPR/Res.228 (LII) 2012 on the need to develop guidelines on conditions of police custody and pre-trial detention in Africa adopted at the 52nd Ordinary Session held from 9 to 22 October 2012, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, which authorize the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa (the Special Rapporteur) to develop a Guideline on the Conditions of Police Custody and Pre-trial Detention in Africa (the Guidelines), including tools for its effective implementation;
Noting with appreciation the work done by Commissioner Med Kaggwa as Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa;
Considering that the mandate of Commissioner Med Kaggwa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa has come to an end;
Decides to renew the mandate of Commissioner Med Kaggwa as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa for a period of two years, effective from 5 November 2013.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 5 November 2013
