The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights wishes to inform the general public that the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights (WGEI) and the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ECOSOC), subsidiary mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), will be organizing a Joint Special Mechanisms Meeting from 17 to 18 February 2019 in Banjul, The Gambia.

This meeting is in furtherance of the implementation of Resolution 236 on Illicit Capital Flight from Africa in terms of which, the Working Groups were tasked to undertake an in-depth study on the impact of illicit capital flight on human rights in Africa. Additionally, it will provide an opportunity to discuss other areas of collaboration between the Working Groups, including the Joint Study on Climate Change and Human Rights as well as an opportunity for the Working Groups to discuss activities/issues related to their individual mandates.

The meeting will be attended by various stakeholders, including members of the African Commission, expert members of the Working Groups, selected independent experts working in the areas of extractive industries, human rights and the environment, and on economic, social and cultural rights.

After the two-day Meeting, participants are expected, amongst others: to have prepared an updated and comprehensive Study on the impact of Illicit Financial Flows in Africa; finalised the draft of the Background Study on Extractive Industries, Human Rights and the Environment in Africa; adopted a roadmap for the finalization of the Study on Illicit Financial Flows in Africa ; have a common agreement on joint mandates of the two Working Groups and further areas of collaboration; and adopted draft reports for the independent meetings of the Working Groups.

For further information, please contact:

Abiola Idowu-Ojo; Marie Saine        

Secretariat, African Commission

31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District

Western Region, PO Box 673

Banjul, The Gambia

Tel: 220 4410505/6

E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org; africancommission@yahoo.com