The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights meeting at its 48th Ordinary Session, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 10 – 24 November 2010:
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Considering Article 45 (c) of the African Charter which requires the African Commission to co-operate with other African and international institutions concerned with the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights;
Considering further the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) Framework Document and the NEPAD Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, which among other things, reaffirm the commitment of African states to the respect of various fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter;
Recalling that one of the key Indicators of the African Peer Review Mechanism of NEPAD (APRM) ‘peer review’ process is the respect for and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms;
Noting that Stage Five, requires that after the Report of the APRM has been considered by the Heads of State and Government of the participating countries, it should formally and publicly be tabled in key regional and sub regional structures, one of which is the African Commission;
Noting also that the African Commission mentioned as one of the Partner Institutions of the African Peer Review institutions that has the capacity to conduct technical assessment on matters relating to human rights, democracy and political governance during the peer review process;
Underscoring the need to pursue areas of cooperation between the APRM and the African Commission and its Special Mechanisms;
Emphasizing the need to explore ways and means of ensuring that these areas of cooperation are effectively utilised for purposes of synergizing human rights promotion and protection on the African continent;
Decides that the cooperation between the APRM, and the African Commission should be institutionalised through the appointment of a focal person within the African Commission to coordinate activities between the latter and the APRM;
Hereby appoints Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, as the focal point between the African Commission and the APRM for a period of one year to coordinate and enhance cooperation between the APRM and the ACHPR.
Done in The Gambia, 24 November, 2010.
