DECISION ON THE THIRTY- FIFTH ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE
AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
Doc. EX.CL/824(XXIV)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Thirty-fifth (35th) Activity Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the recommendations contained therein and AUTHORISES its publication;
2. EXPRESSES appreciation for the efforts deployed by the ACHPR during the reporting period to promote and protect human rights in Africa;
3. TAKES NOTE of the human rights situation on the continent as outlined in the Activity Report, CONGRATULATES those Member States that have taken positive measures to improve the human rights situation in their respective countries; and EXHORTS those Member States, where challenges have been identified, to take concerted action to address the continuing concerns in their countries;
4. CALLS UPON Member States to implement decisions and recommendations of the ACHPR, respond to Urgent Appeals from the ACHPR, and to comply with Provisional Measures issued by the ACHPR;
5. COMMITS to provide adequate resources (human, material and financial) to the ACHPR to enable it effectively implement the crucial and sensitive mandate entrusted to it;
6. REITERATES its request for the AUC to expedite the recruitment process for the ACHPR Secretariat to enable the ACHPR effectively deliver on the mandate entrusted to it;
7. AUTHORISES the ACHPR to implement the applicable provisions of Executive Council Decision EX.cl/351(XI) with regards to sitting allowances within the confines of the budget already approved for the ACHPR in 2014;
8. REQUESTS the African Union Commission (AUC) to finalize insurance cover for Members of the Commission;
9. EXHORTS the AUC to finalize the harmonization of the emoluments of elected officials and submit proposals to the next Ordinary Session of the Council;
10. COMMENDS Member States that are up to date with their reporting obligations under Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), and ENCOURAGES all those that have overdue Reports to submit them as soon as possible;
11. TAKES NOTE of the offer by the Republic of Angola and the Republic of Niger to host the 55 and 56 Ordinary Sessions of the ACHPR respectively, and ENCOURAGES other Member States, especially those that have never done so, to consider hosting some of the future Sessions of the ACHPR;
12. DECLARES 2016, “the African Year of Human and People’s Rights, particularly, Women’s Rights”, in commemoration of 35 years of the adoption of the African Charter, 30 years of the entry into force of the African Charter, 29 years of the operationalization of the Commission and 10 years of the operationalization of the African Court;
13. REQUESTS the Commission and the African Court and all the relevant stakeholders, to submit a Concept Note, setting out the rationale and modalities for celebrating the year 2016 as the African Year of Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly Women’s Rights,, and to ensure the involvement of other AU Organs with human rights mandate.