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While acknowledging their contributions to its work, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights reminded National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society groups of their obligation to submit reports of their activities every two years.
On 22 October 2024, on the margins of its 81st Ordinary Session, the African Commission presented two papers: the first on its collaboration with NHRIs that have affiliate status with it, the second on the role of non-governmental organisations that enjoy the observer status.
Two resolutions of the African Commission on the granting of affiliate status to NHRIs and observer status to NGOs respectively recognise their role in the promotion and protection of human rights and in creating public awareness in Africa. These resolutions enable the relationship and collaboration between NHRIs and NGOs with the African Commission. They impose obligations on NHRIs and NGOs while granting them several rights.
The Commission indicated it has made significant efforts to review requests for affiliate or observer status from NHRIs and NGOs respectively.
‘By its last session, the Commission had granted observer status to 571 NGOs. At its 79th Ordinary Session, the Commission granted the observer status to 10 non-governmental organisations giving them ample opportunity to engage the Commission in various matters,’ said Commissioner Salma Sassi who presented the paper on the relationship with NGOs.
At the same session, the Commission granted affiliate status to two NHRIs bringing their total number to 38, among which four specialised institutions.
NHRIs with affiliate status have the responsibility to assist the African Commission in promoting and protecting human rights at the national level and to present their activity reports every two years, while NGOs with observer status have the responsibility to engage the African Commission on matters of common interest and present every two years the report of their activities.
However, not all NGOs and NHRIs are up to date with their reporting obligations. To date, 415 NGOs have submitted one or more reports to the Commission while many NHRIs owe their activity reports: only one institution submitted its activity report before the beginning of the 81st Ordinary Session.
Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, who read the paper on NHRIs, also provided a list of those who have not presented their activity reports as this can help them to remember they owe several reports.
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