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NGO FORUM | PANEL ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE 2020 AFRICAN UNION'S THEME 'SILENCING THE GUNS IN AFRICA'
On 10 July 2020, a on 'Silencing the Guns in Africa' and the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction was organised during the NGO Forum. The panel aimed at discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of the 2020 African Union’s theme as well as on women, youth and peace and security in Africa.
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ACHPR66 | STATES MUST ENSURE A HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH TO FIGHTING COVID-19
Since the beginning of last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed States to adopt restrictive measures in order to protect their population from the devastating fallout caused by the disease. In many African countries, these measures have led to a high number of human rights violations, especially undue restrictions on the work of human rights defenders.
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ACHPR66 | HOW DO COMMISSIONERS IMPLEMENT THEIR MANDATES?
As provided by the African Commission's Rules of Procedure, each of the 11 Commissioners presented their activity reports. These reports summarise the work accomplished by each one of them according to their mandates since the last ordinary session of the African Commission. ISHR used this opportunity to deliver a statement following the report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders.
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ACHPR66 | MAURITIUS' PERIODIC REVIEW
On 24 and 27 July 2020, pursuant to article 62 of the African Charter, the Commission reviewed Mauritius' 9th and 10th combined reports on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the African Charter.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Commission held its 67th ordinary session online from 13 November to 3 December 2020. As usual, the session was preceded by the NGO Forum. See below what came out in this challenging period.
Read the final communiqué here |
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ACHPR67 | OUTCOME OF THE 67TH AFRICAN COMMISSION'S SESSION
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This session was particularly marked by the number of participants. A total of 552 delegates took part in the session, which is 217 more participants than the last session. This includes 89 States representatives from 26 countries; 11 African Union's organs; 53 members of national human rights institutions; 23 international and intergovernmental organisations; 328 African and international NGOs; 47 other observers and one media.
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NGO FORUM | THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA
During the NGO Forum preceding the 67th African Commission's session, civil society organisations highlighted the various negative impacts of COVID-19 on the continent, which has exacerbated violations of human rights. This is especially the case when it comes to freedom of association, economic and social rights, and a number of vulnerable groups such as women and children or indigenous people.
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NGO FORUM | ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS AFFECTED BY THE CORRUPTION LINKED TO COVID-19 FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO AFRICA
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused significant damage to health, it has also had a considerable impact on economic, social and cultural rights. In particular on the financial issues involved in managing the pandemic. The emergency funds released to support African States have not escaped the plague of corruption. On 10 November 2020, the NGO Forum held a discussion on the economic, social and cultural rights affected by this phenomenon.
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ACHPR67 | STOP THE VIOLENT REPRESSION OF PROTESTS IN AFRICA
On 24 November 2020, ISHR delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Africa, with a particular focus on the restrictions to freedom of assembly in Africa and the recent arrests of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights’ staff in Egypt.
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ACHPR67 | IMPLEMENTING THE GUIDELINES ON FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY IN AFRICA
Three years after the adoption of the African Commission’s Guidelines on freedom of association and assembly in Africa, it is deplorable to note that States continue to adopt restrictive laws which contribute to the shrinking of civic space and have a considerable impact on freedom of association and assembly.
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ACHPR67 | A STEP TOWARDS BETTER PROTECTION OF AFRICAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS
After a process that lasted over six years, the African Commission launched the General Comment No.6 on Article 7 of Maputo Protocol. It is aimed at better protecting women’s matrimonial rights, and especially the right to an equitable sharing of joint property deriving from marriage.
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ACHPR67 | COMMISSIONERS PRESENT THEIR ACTIVITY REPORTS
As provided by the African Commission's Rules of Procedure, each of the 11 Commissioners presented their activity reports during the session. ISHR used this opportunity to deliver a statement following the reports of the Special Rapporteur on Women, the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and the Chairperson of the Working Group on extractive industries, the environment and human rights violations.
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ACHPR67 | STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS FOR A BETTER PROTECTION OF DEFENDERS
Since its 47th ordinary session, the African Commission can grant affiliated status to national human rights institutions. Establishing such relationship with these stakeholders has allowed for increased collaboration. However, this collaboration is yet to reach its full potential.
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ACHPR67 | PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON
On 23 November 2020, the African Commission reviewed Cameroon’s 4th-6th periodic reports relating to the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its 1st reports as to the Maputo Protocol and the Kampala Convention. Prior to this review, ISHR along with the Réseau des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC) and the Réseau Camerounais des Organisations des Droits de l’Homme (RECODH), submitted a civil society report to the Commission on the situation of human rights defenders in Cameroon.
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ACHPR67 | THE RIGHT TO HEALTH AND ITS FINANCING TOWARDS BUILDING HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IN AFRICA
On 17 November 2020, the African Commission co-organised with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) a panel addressing lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic in regards to ensuring resilient health care systems and access to health for all in Africa.
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ACHPR67 | STOP ILLICIT FINANCIAL FLOWS TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS
On 20 November, the African Commission organised a panel on extractive industries and illicit financial flows in Africa, highlighting their damaging impact on development and human rights on the continent.
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ACHPR67 | THE ADDIS ABABA ROADMAP: ARE WE AT CROSSROADS?
On 18 November 2020, ISHR took part in a panel evaluating the relationship between the UN's Special Procedures and those of the African Commission. The panel discussion was aimed at sensitising all stakeholders about the importance of enhanced cooperation between the two systems in the protection and the promotion of human rights.
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