Banjul, 27 June, 2020, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (theACHPR) wishes to inform the State Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the general public, of the scheduling of its 66th Ordinary Session, from Monday, 13 July to Friday, 07 August, 2020.

VENUE:   Virtual Session, Zoom Webinar - REGISTER TO ATTEND THE SESSION

REGISTER TO MAKE STATEMENT: 

ITEM 3: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN AFRICA (With Special Focus on Human and Peoples’ Rights and COVID-19)  Deadline Wednesday, 15 July 2020 12:00 GMT

ITEM 8: ACTIVITY REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS AND SPECIAL MECHANISMS (Interventions) Deadline Saturday, 18 July 2020 12:00 GMT

STATE PARTIES’ RIGHT TO REPLY:

ITEM 3: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN AFRICA (With Special Focus on Human and Peoples’ Rights and COVID-19)  Deadline Friday, 17 July 2020 12:00 GMT

ITEM 8: ACTIVITY REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS AND SPECIAL MECHANISMS (Interventions) Deadline Tuesday, 21 July 2020 12:00 GMT

PUBLIC SESSION DOCUMENTS: 66th Ordinary Session Public Documents

WHAT:    The 66th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights

WHEN:    13 July 2020 – 27 July 2020 – Public Session

 28 July – 06 August 2020 – Private Session

                07 August 2020 – Closing Ceremony (Public Session)

WHERE:   Virtual Session

Public Session Zoom Webinar links:

13 July 2020 – 24 July 2020 – Public Session

https://zoom.us/j/91422331962?pwd=akRoYXNqTGpoT2E5cTQ0U1ArbTBLZz09

Password:125610

07 August 2020 – Closing Ceremony (Public Session)

https://zoom.us/j/92776089581?pwd=a3lQZjA4cmVLanNsaHdEeWtvK1JSQT09

Password:040960

WHO:      The Commissioners and the Secretariat of the ACHPR, All States Parties, Organs

     of the African Union, National Human Rights Institutions, International      

     Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other members of the

     general public are invited to attend.

Unlike in the past, this Ordinary Session will be virtual and scaled down, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission will focus on the following Session activities:

1. Human Rights Situation in Africa (with special emphasis on the context of COVID-19);
2. Consideration of State Party Reports;
3. Consideration of Applications for Affiliate Status from NHRIs and for Observer Status from NGOs; and
4. Consideration of Communications.

The Ordinary Session will be live streamed on: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgwJmiMTr59J0jYZJJtfzuw

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

1. The ACHPR is composed of eleven Commissioners, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The ACHPR meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions.

2. During its immediately preceding 28th Extra-Ordinary Session, the Commission swore in 4 (four) new Members of the ACHPR, elected by the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (via decision Ex.CL. Dec/1225(XXXVI)) namely:

Dr. Marie Louise Abomo (Cameroon), Mr. Mudford Zacharia Mwandenga (Zambia), Mr. NDiamé Gaye (Senegal) and Mrs. Alexia Gertrude Amesbury (Seychelles).

The new Commissioners swore in during the 28 Extraordinary Session which took place virtually from 29 June to 1st July 2020.

These new Commissioners replaced the 4 (four) outgoing Commissioners whose terms of Office have ended namely: Hon. Commissioner Soyata Maiga (Mali-former chairperson of the African Charter of Human and people’s rights, President of Committee of HIV and President of Workig group of indigenous people), Hon. Commissioner Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen (Mauritius- President of the working group of older persons and disabilities ), Hon. Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor (Cameroon-Special Rapporteur of women), and Hon. Commissioner Lawrence Murugu Mute (Kenya- Special Rapporteur of freedom of expression)

Further information on the ACHPR can be obtained from the ACHPR’s website at www.achpr.org.

For more comments:
Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo, Ag. Executive Secretary
Tel: +251 98 487 70 29 / +220 4410 505 / 506
Email: KhumaloL@africa-union.org
For Media inquiries: au-banjul@africa-union.org

For media interested in participating please contact:  

Mr. Etwell Karikoga, E-mail: KarikogaE@africa-union.org

Banjul, The Gambia, 27 June 2020