MEDIA ADVISORY

77th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

(Public & Physical)

Convened in terms of Article 64 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, read together with Rules 27 and 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the ACHPR, 2020

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT:  77th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights  (ACHPR) (Public & Physical)

WHEN: Opening Ceremony: Friday, 20 October 2023, 10:00 – 12: 00 Hours (EAT)

 Public Session (Physical): 20 – 31 Oct 2023 at 09:00 a.m. (EAT) /06:00 a.m. (GMT) /07:00  a.m. (CAT) [Physical /in-person] and 9 November 2023 (Public Session) from 10:00 am (EAT) /09:00a.m (CAT) 07:00 a.m. [GMT]. 

Private Session: 1 – 8 November 2023        

Public Session: Closing Ceremony (Physical): 9 November 2023, 10:00 – 11:30 Hours (EAT)

VENUE: Arusha, International Conference Centre, (AICC) – Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania

WHO: Media Representatives

Journalists who wish to participate in the Public Session and the Press Conference after the Closing Ceremony on 9 November 2023 must submit questions in advance on the ACHPR website using the following link:

https://forms.office.com/r/LEVdvs0qNM

They should indicate their full names, the names of their media organizations and their contact details.

INFORMATION NOTE:

1.The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is the premier human rights body of the African Union, established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), the founding treaty of the African Human Rights system, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.          

2.The ACHPR is an autonomous treaty body of the African Union, and is composed of eleven (11) Commissioners pursuant to Article 31 of the African Charter, who are elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The Commissioners sit in their personal capacity and in an independent and impartial manner.

3.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 formulation of principles and rules on fundamental freedoms on which African governments can base their legislation.

4.The ACHPR meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions. Since its inception, the ACHPR has held seventy-six (76) Ordinary Sessions and thirty-five (35) Extraordinary Sessions.

5.The 77th Ordinary Session, to be held physically, from 20 October to 9 November 2023, will feature the swearing-in of three (3) re-elected Commissioners and one (1) newly elected Commissioner, as well as the election of a new Bureau of the Commission. The Commission will deliberate on trending human rights issues especially matters arising from statements from various stakeholders on the human rights situation in Africa, its relationship and cooperation with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Specialized Institutions, as well as with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), granted Observer Status.

6.The Commission, in commemoration of the Africa Human Rights Day will also hold a High-Level Panel on Maputo Protocol@20: A call for universal ratification, implementation, domestication, and reporting of the Maputo Protocol.  It will also hold Panel discussions on other human rights issues such as:  Ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Social Protection in Africa & Dissemination of General Comment No 7 on State Obligations under the African Charter in the context of private provision of social services; Stakeholders’ consultation in relation to the draft Report of the Study on the Impact of Climate Change on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa; the 10th anniversary of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa; Relationship and collaboration between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption; Enforced Disappearances during Elections (with the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances); The situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa; the Joint Panel on the Addis Ababa RoadMap in light of the 75th Anniversary of the UDHR, with a focus on Exploring OHCHR/ACHPR collaborations on mainstreaming Human Rights into AfCFTA Implementation; Panel on the Situation of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Africa; the 2nd Regional Forum on the State of Extractive Industries, Human Rights and the Environment in Africa; Panel on Indigenous Populations in Africa; and a Joint Panel of the ACHPR and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights under the Joint Roadmap on Complementarity.

7.Other highlights of the Session will include: the Joint Launch of the African Guiding Principles on the Human Rights of All Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and the Study on the African responses on Migration; 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; Launch of the Newsletter on Maputo@20: A Celebration of 20 Years of the Rights of Women and Girls in Africa; and Joint Launch of the Report on the Jurisprudence on Article 5 of the African Charter and CPTA’s 2023 Newsletter. Also, the twelve (12) Special Mechanisms of the Commission will present their bi-annual Reports on the execution of their mandates to the participants at the Session.        

8.In accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter, which requires States Parties to submit Periodic Reports to the ACHPR every two years, the Commission will also examine two (2) State Reports namely: Reports of the Republic of Eritrea; and the Republic of Uganda, presented by their Delegations.

9.Thereafter, the ACHPR will retreat into Private Sittings where it will deliberate on and take decisions on various reports, and on registered complaints of human rights violations [Communications].

NOTE FOR EDITORS:

Further information on the ACHPR can be obtained from the ACHPR website at www.achpr.au.int

1. For more comments:

Mrs. Abiola Idowu-Ojo, Ag. Secretary to the Commission

Tel: +220 7471 077 ; E-mail: Achpr.stcincoming@africa-union.org

2. For documentation and materials, please contact:

Mr. Elliot Nsega, E-mail: NsegaE@africa-union.org; au-banjul@africa-union.org

3. For media interested in participating, please contact: 

Mr.  Etwell Karikoga, E-mail: Karikogae@africa-union.org