50th and 51st Combined Activity Reports

I. SUMMARY

1. The 50th and 51st Combined Activity Reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission or ACHPR), which is presented to the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in accordance with Article 54 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), covers the period from 4 December 2020 to 5 December 2021.

2. The activities carried out by the Commission during the reporting period, as outlined in the Combined Report, seek to implement the priority areas set out in the Commission’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. In this regard, the Commission’s statutory meetings were specifically devoted to the improvement of the administration of justice through the processing of Communications on alleged human rights violations, thereby reinforcing the implementation of the Commission’s mandate of protecting human and peoples’ rights. This is further strengthened by the interventions of the Commission on urgent and pressing human rights issues through urgent appeal letters, press releases, resolutions and letters of congratulations.

3. The activities of the Special Mechanisms of the Commission and the consideration of Reports of State Parties to the African Charter on the implementation of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the African Charter contributed to the improvement of national legal and institutional frameworks for the promotion and protection of rights at the national level through the enactment of new laws, a review of the existing laws and the creation or reform of relevant institutions in States Parties. The Report also covers budgetary, staffing and operational issues relating to the Commission and includes the latter’s recommendations on the human rights situation on the Continent.