At its 47th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 12 to 26 May 2010, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) adopted Resolution ACHPR/Res.163 (XLV11) 10 establishing a Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at risk, vulnerable to and affected by HIV in Africa (the Committee). Its mandate is as follows:
- To seek, request, receive, analyse and respond to reliable information from a credible sources including individuals, community based organisations, non-governmental organisations, specialised agencies, inter-governmental organisations, and state parties, on the situation and rights of PLHIV and those at risk;
- To undertake fact-finding missions, where necessary, to investigate, verify and make conclusions and recommendations regarding allegations of human rights violations;
- To engage state parties and non- state actors on their responsibilities to respect the rights of people living with HIV and those proven to be vulnerable to these infections;
- To engage state parties on their responsibilities to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of people living HIV and those at risk;
- To recommend concrete and effective strategies to better protect the rights of people living HIV and those at risk;
- To integrate a gender perspective and give special attention to persons belonging to vulnerable groups including, women, children, sex workers, migrants, men having sex with men, intravenous drugs users and prisoners; and
- To report regularly to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In discharging its mandate, the Committee employs various means and ways of sensitization, lobbying and protection. These include country visits to States Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), research, publications, promotional activities, seminars, workshops and trainings as well as participation in national, regional and international meetings and activities related to the Rights of PLHIV and those at risk.
Pursuant to this mandate and Resolution ACHPR/Res. 460 (LXVI) 2020 on the Renewal of the Mandate, Appointment of the Chairperson, and Reconstitution of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV adopted at the 66th Ordinary Session of the Commission, held virtually from 13 July to 7 August 2020, which brings the current term of office of the existing members to an end on 7 August 2022.
The Committee hereby invites nominations from interested candidates to serve as Independent Expert Members of the Committee.
The Committee shall be composed of five (5) Experts representing the five (5) regions of the continent, taking into account linguistic and gender representation. Candidates must be nationals of a State Party to the African Charter and are required to have proven experience and expertise in human rights, in particular in the area of the rights of PLHIV and those at risk. The mandate of Committee Members is for a period of two (2) years.
Applications should be accompanied by a motivation letter, a detailed curriculum vitae and any other relevant document, and should be received at the Secretariat of the Commission within one (1) month from the date of publication of this call, that is, no later than 28 July 2022. The Commission will appoint the new Expert Members of the Committee during its 72nd Ordinary Session scheduled to take place from 19 July – 2 August 2022.
Applications should be sent by e-mail to au-banjul@africa-union.org, or by courier to the following address:
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, Western Region
P.O. Box 673 Banjul
The Gambia
