WHAT: Press Conference by Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso on the issues discussed during the Public Session of its 67th Ordinary Session, including the current human rights situation in Africa.

WHEN: December 3, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. (GMT) / 3:30 p.m. (EAT) / 2:30 p.m. (CAT)

WHERE: Virtual session
Zoom webinar link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VJYkndJ1QTSD3RRQDfJ3nQ

WHO: Media Representatives

INFORMATION NOTE:
1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) was established under Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), which entered into force on October 21 1986. The ACHPR is an autonomous treaty body of the African Union, and is composed of eleven (11) Commissioners, 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.

2. 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.

3. In accordance with its Rules of Procedure 2020, the ACHPR holds four (4) Ordinary Sessions per year, two of which include both public and private proceedings, it can also convene extraordinary sessions. The Rules of Procedure are available on the ACHPR website at: https://www.achpr.org/legalinstruments/detail?id=72

4. Since its inception, the ACHPR has held sixty-six (66) Ordinary Sessions and twenty-nine (29) Extraordinary Sessions.

5. During this 67th Ordinary Session, held virtually from November 13 to December 3, 2020, the ACHPR deliberated on numerous human rights issues including: matters arising from statements from various stakeholders on the human rights situation in Africa. It also considered and took decisions on registered complaints of human rights violations [Communications] and adopted its Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

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, during this 67th Ordinary Session, examined a Combined Periodic Report submitted by the Republic of Cameroon covering the period of January 2015 to August 2019.

7. The ACHPR also deliberated on its relationship and cooperation with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

8. Panel discussions on diverse themes were held:
 Human Rights and Silencing the Guns in Africa;
 The right to health and its financing towards building health systems for universal access to health care;
 Addis Ababa Roadmap and the Relationship between the ACHPR and the UN Human Rights Mechanisms;
 Protection of all persons from Enforced Disappearances in Africa;
 Extractive Industries and illicit financial flows in Africa;
 Forced displacement and conflicts in Africa;
 Situation of Freedom of Association in Africa;
 Situation of the rights of older persons and persons with disabilities in Africa in the context of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocacy for the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa and the Protocol on the Rights of persons with Disabilities in Africa; and
 The Role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the Work of the ACHPR.

9. The following Newsletters and soft law instruments were launched:
 Newsletter No. 14 on Police and Human Rights in Africa;
 Newsletter of the Working Group on Extractive Industries;
 General Comment No. 6 on Art. 7(d) of the Maputo Protocol; and
 The Simplified Version of the Principles on Decriminalization of Petty Offences in Africa.

10. The ACHPR also presented Activity Reports on the work undertaken by its Country Rapporteurs, Working Groups and Special Mechanisms, during the intersession period.

11. The ACHPR retreated into a Private Session to deliberate on a number of issues, including but not limited to, consideration of Communications against State Parties.

For media interested in participating please contact:
Mr. Etwell Karikoga, E-mail: KarikogaE@africa-union.org

Media to register questions and requests to take the floor on the following website link: https://forms.gle/WqUTqwaCwqKBhY247

For more information and documentation, please contact:
Mr. Eliot Nsega, Acting Public Relations and Information Officer
Phone: +2204410505; WhatsApp: +2207511791
Email: NsegaE@africa-union.org