Press Release of the Meeting of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities in Africa

The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) wishes to inform the general public that it will be organising a meeting of its Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People With Disabilities in Mauritius from 9 to11 August, 2010.

The meeting, which is part of the ACHPR’s promotional mandate, is being organised in accordance with Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and also in order to give effect to ACHPR/Res143 (XXXXV) 09, that requires the Working Group to, amongst other things, articulate the rights of older persons and people with disabilities in Africa and draft texts to promote the rights of this segment of Africa’s population.

The Meeting of the Working Group is intended to undertake an audit of the current work of the Working Group and map out the future direction of the Group’s work. This involves, among other things, two main dimensions, namely:

1. finalising the elaboration of the draft Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons, with a view to having the Protocol ready for presentation to the ACHPR at its next Ordinary Session; and
2. considering how best to deal with the issue of people with disabilities, including reviewing the draft Protocol on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou, Chairperson of the ACHPR and Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen, member of the ACHPR and Chairperson of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities in Africa will lead the discussions. The other members of the Working Group, Dr. Tavengua Nhongo, Mr. Papa Malick Fall and Ms. Nadian Abdel-Wahab El-Afify will be in attendance as well. Also taking part in the deliberations will be staff of the Secretariat including the Executive Secretary of the ACHPR, Dr. Mary Maboreke.

Banjul, 3rd August 2010

For further information on the workshop, please contact:
Mr. Sheikh Tijan Hydara
At African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex lay-out, Kombo North District
Western Region,
P.O Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: +220 4410505/4410506
Fax: +220 4410504
Email:achpr@achpr.org
hydara@achpr.org