Invitation

At its 37 th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia from 27 April to 11 May 2005 , the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by resolution and in accordance with Rule 28 of its Rules of Procedure, established a Working Group on the Death Penalty in Africa, with a mandate to inter alia, examine a draft position paper on the “Question of the Death Penalty in Africa” and advice the Commission accordingly.

The African Commission appointed three of its Members to serve on the Working Group. They included:

• Commissionner Dr. Vera M Chirwa, (convenor),
• Commissioner Yasser El Hassan ; and
• Commissioner Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga

On 20 November 2005, the Working Group held its first meeting, convened by Dr. Chirwa, whose term as Member of the African Commission came to an end after the meeting . During that meeting the group among other things, adopted a resolution calling on the African Commission to broaden the composition of the Working Group.

At its 38 th Ordinary Session, the African Commission adopted the resolution expanding the composition of the Working Group to include two members of the African Commission and five independent experts, and mandated the Secretariat to compile a list of interested candidates for consideration as independent expert members of the Working Group, due consideration being given to expertise on the question of the death penalty in Africa, and on the gender, geographic, legal and religious make up of the continent.

The Secretariat of the African Commission is therefore inviting nominations from Member States of the African Union, National Human Rights Institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations and other interested individuals and institutions, and would be most obliged if the names suggested would also include the curriculum vitae of the candidates.

The African Commission intends to nominate the members of the Working Group during its 40 th Ordinary Session scheduled for November 2006 and the Secretariat would appreciate if proposed names could be sent not later than 30 September 2006.

For further information please contact Mr. Robert Wundeh Eno, Legal Officer (Protection)

Tel: (+220) 439-2962
Fax: (+220) 439-0764
Email: legal8@achpr.org

INVITAIONS:

- Member States of the African Union
- National Human Rights Institutions
- Non-governmental Organisations