The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has elected a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson (“The Bureau”) to co-ordinate the promotion and protection activities of members of the Commission for a period of two (2) years. The election took place on the 15 November at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR which is presently underway virtually; and ending on the 05 December 2021.
The election was conducted in line with Article 42(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, read together with Rule 14 of the Rules of Procedure of the ACHPR (2020).
The Members of the new Bureau are:
1. Hon. Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson - Central Region
2. Hon. Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel, Vice-Chairperson - Northern Region
The new Bureau replaces the immediate past Bureau headed by Hon. Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso.
INFORMATION NOTE:
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) was established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), which entered into force on October 21 1986. The ACHPR is an autonomous treaty body of the African Union, and is composed of eleven (11) Commissioners, who are elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The Commissioners serve in their personal capacity and in an independent and impartial manner.
2. The mandate of the ACHPR is defined in Article 45 of the African Charter and includes: the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights on the continent; the interpretation of any provision of the African Charter at the request of a state party, an OAU institution or an African Organization recognized by the African Union; and the performance of any other tasks which may be entrusted to it by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
3. In accordance with its new Rules of Procedure adopted at its 27th Extraordinary Session (February 19 - March 4, 2020), the ACHPR shall hold four (4) Ordinary Sessions per year, and it can also convene Extraordinary Sessions at the request of the majority of the Members of the Commission or of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The Rules of Procedure (2020) are available on the ACHPR website at: https://www.achpr.org/legalinstruments/detail?id=72.
4. Since its inception, the ACHPR has held sixty-eight (68) Ordinary Sessions and thirty-four (34) Extraordinary Sessions.
5. The Bureau of the Commission shall coordinate the promotion and protection activities of the members of the Commission during their term of office.
