New Chairperson of ACHPR
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has elected a new Bureau, consisting of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, to lead and co-ordinate the activities of the Commission.
The election conducted November 15, 2021, saw Hon. Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu (Central Region) was elected as Chairperson of the Commission while Hon. Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel (Northern Region) was elected to the post of Vice-Chairperson. The two will serve for a period of two years. The new Chairperson takes over from the immediate former Chairperson, Hon. Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso.
The election of the Bureau took place during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR which ran from the November 15 to December 15, 2021, 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 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.
The mandate of the Commission 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.
In accordance with its new Rules of Procedure adopted at its 27th Extraordinary Session (February 19 – March 4, 2020), the ACHPR shall hold four 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.
Since its inception, the ACHPR has held 68 Ordinary Sessions and 34 Extraordinary Sessions.
The Bureau of the Commission shall coordinate the promotion and protection activities of the members of the Commission during their term of office.
