Photo: ACHPR
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) held its 64th ordinary session from 24 April to 14 May 2019 in Sharm El Sheikh, the Arab Republic of Egypt. This session focused on the African Union theme: 'Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Sustainable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa.'
This 64th ordinary session of the African Commission was attended by 355 delegates, including 81 NGOs. During this session, three countries were reviewed, namely Lesotho, the Gambia and Egypt for which ISHR, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and the Committee for Justice submitted a joint shadow report.
In her opening statement de chairperson of the Commission, Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maiga, expressed the Commission’s regret to all civil society stakeholders who, due to difficulties in obtaining visas in their respective countries, were unable to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh, despite the guarantees obtained by the Commission from the host country prior to the session. She also emphasised the ongoing crisis in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo causing deaths and unimaginable suffering among the populations in violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed by the Charter and other regional and international human rights instruments.
The Commission took the opportunity to pay a well-deserved tribute to Honourable Commissioners Maïga Soyata (Outgoing Chairperson), Lawrence Murugu Mute (Outgoing Vice-Chairperson), Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen and Lucy Asuagbor, whose respective terms of office will expire at the end of the last quarter of 2019, in recognition of their immense contribution to the work of the Commission.
The focus of this session being on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, a number of panels discussed the issue of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants from a human rights perspective. In addition, a panel on States’ reporting obligations and guidelines on reporting under the Maputo Protocol was organised during which Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor, Special Rapporteur on the rights of women in Africa, noted that only a handful of member States have actually fulfilled their reporting obligations under the Maputo Protocol. She emphasised how crucial it is for States to report on the implementation of the Protocol and the important role civil society organisations have to play in collaborating with their States to provide truthful information.
The Commission also used this opportunity to celebrate the 50 years since the adoption by the African Union of the Convention on refugees.
As is the case at every session, Commissioners and Working Groups presented their activity reports summarising the activities implemented by their mandate since the last session. In particular, while presenting the report of the Working Group on extractive industries, the environment and human rights, Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso reiterated the importance of the recently adopted Guidelines and Principles on State Reporting on Extractive Industries, Human Rights and the Environment and the actions taken for its dissemination to all relevant stakeholders, especially States. He also mentioned the progress made by the Working Group on several documents such as the Background Study on Extractive Industries, the Environment and Human Rights in Africa and Study on Climate Change and Human Rights. In light of the recent cyclones which affected Mozambique, Tanzania, Comoros, Zimbabwe and Malawi, the Commissioner further called on ‘State Parties affected by the cyclones to ensure that the human and peoples’ rights of affected persons and communities are protected, and that they are not submitted to further violations as a result of the cyclones, and that women in particular are not submitted to sexual abuse and manipulation on account of their vulnerability.’
Finally, to conclude this 64th ordinary session the Commission adopted the following eight (8) resolutions:
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