WHAT: Press Conference by Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso on the issues discussed during the Public Session of its 68^th Ordinary Session, including the current human rights situation in Africa.

WHEN: May 4, 2021 at 13:00 p.m. (GMT) / 4:00 p.m. (EAT) / 3:00 p.m. (CAT)

VENUE: Press Conference Room, Ground Floor, African Union Headquarters, NCC Building, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and virtually on Zoom link: https://Zoom.Us/Webinar/Register/WN_CejPu9abRGat1oVKJ40AbQ

WHO: Media Representatives

Journalists may submit questions in advance on ACHPR website using the following link: https://forms.gle/JUv4CuNeHLykKmdo9; they should indicate their full name and the name of their media organization. Questions may also be submitted on the Zoom Chat during the course of the conference.

INFORMATION NOTE:

1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is the premier human rights body of the African Union, established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), the founding treaty of the African Human Rights system, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.
2. The ACHPR is an autonomous treaty body of the African Union, and is composed of eleven (11) Commissioners pursuant to Article 31 of the African Charter, who are elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The Commissioners sit in their personal capacity and in an independent and impartial manner.

African Union Headquarters P.O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ww.au.int

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 77 00 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 78 44

3. The mandate of the ACHPR is defined in Article 45 of the African Charter and includes: the protection and promotion of human and peoples' rights on the continent; the interpretation of any provision of the African Charter, at the request of a State Party, an OAU institution or an African Organization recognized by the African Union; and the formulation of principles and rules on fundamental freedoms on which African governments can base their legislation.
4. The ACHPR meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold ExtraOrdinary Sessions. Since its inception, the ACHPR has held sixty-seven (67) Ordinary Sessions and thirty -one (31) Extraordinary Sessions.
5. During the 68^th Ordinary Session, held virtually from April 14 to May 4, 2021, the ACHPR deliberated on numerous human rights issues including: matters arising from statements from various stakeholders on the human rights situation in Africa, its relationship and cooperation with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and granted Observer Status to seven (7) NGOs.
6. In accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter, which requires States Parties to submit Periodic Reports to the ACHPR every two years, the Commission examined the Combined Periodic Report of the Republic of Benin and the 2^nd –

3^rd Periodic Report of the Republic of Malawi, presented by their respective Delegations.

7. The ACHPR also retreated into Private Sittings where it deliberated and took decisions on various reports, and on registered complaints of human rights violations [Communications].

NOTE FOR EDITORS:

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

1. For more comments:

Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo, Ag. Secretary to the Commission

Tel: +220 4410 505 / 506 ; E-mail: Achpr.stcincoming@africa-union.org

2. For documentation and materials, please contact: Elliot Nsega, E-mail: NsegaE@africa-union.org au-banjul@africa-union.org

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

3. For media interested in participating please contact:

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