African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will hold its 77th Ordinary Session in Arusha, Tanzania, from October 20 to November 9, 2023.
The Public Session of the meeting, which will be in-person, will take place from October 20 to 31 and will include a formal opening ceremony to be held on October 20 from 9am to 11am. The Private Session, which will be attended by members and staff of the Commission, will take place from November 1 to 8, after which the closing ceremony will be held on November 9 at a Public Session which will also be in-person and will take place from 9am to 11am.
The session is convened pursuant to Article 64 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, 2020. It will be attended by representatives of State Parties to the African Charter, Organs of the African Union (AU), National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and members of the general public.
Those seeking to participate in the session have until September 30, 2023 to formally register.
Registration forms are available on the Commission’s website.
The Commission is composed of 11 Commissioners who are nationals of AU Member States elected in their individual capacity. The Commission meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions, which may include Extra-Ordinary Sessions.
The Agenda for the 77th Ordinary Session includes Statements on Human Rights Situation in Africa by representatives of State Delegates; AU Organs with a human rights mandate; Intergovernmental and International Organizations; NHRIs and NGOs; Consideration of Applications for Observer and Affiliate Status; the Relationship and Cooperation with NHRIs and NGOs; Relationship and cooperation between the ACHPR and NHRIs; Relationship and cooperation between the Commission and NGOs; presentation of Activity Reports of the Members of the Commission and Special Mechanisms; and a Panel on “Maputo@20: A call for universal ratification, implementation, and domestication of the Maputo Protocol”
Other Agenda items include: A Panel on the Addis Ababa RoadMap; a Panel on the situation of Human Rights Defenders; a Panel on the launch of the Study on the use of force by law enforcement officers and prison guards: Presentation of the Training tool on the use of force; a Panel on the Launch of Joint General Comment on Female Genital Mutilation; a Panel on the Second Regional Forum on the State of Extractive Industries, Human Rights and the Environment in Africa; a Panel discussion on 10 Years of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa; a Panel on Ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Social Protection in Africa and Dissemination of General Comment No 7 on State Obligations under the African Charter in the context of private provision of social services.
The Agenda also includes a Panel on the Joint Launch of the Report on the Jurisprudence on Article 5 of the African Charter and CPTA’s 2023 Newsletter; a Joint Panel with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights under the Joint Roadmap; a Joint Panel with the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding; a Panel on Stakeholders’ consultation in relation to the draft Report of the Study on the Impact of Climate Change on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa”; a Panel on the Safety of Female Journalists; and Consideration of State Reports, including presentation of their periodic report by Uganda and Eritrea.
The Ordinary Session will be live streamed on: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgwJmiMTr59J0jYZJJtfzuw
