AGENDA · 2019-03-12 · Presentation of the African Commission’s Human Rights Awards by the ......

AGENDA

9th–22ndOCTOBER2012 Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire

2

9.00-12:00

ITEM 1: OPENING CEREMONY (PUBLIC SESSION)

African Union Anthem

STATEMENTS

Statement by a Representative of NGOs, Ms. Hannah Forster10 Minutes

Statement by a Representative of the National Human Rights Institutions, Adv. Lawrence Mushwana (name to be confirmed)10 Minutes

Speech by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Her Excellency Ms. Navi Pillay 10 Minutes

Speech by the Representative of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights 10 Minutes

Interlude: Light Cultural Display – 5 Minutes

Speech by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, African Union Commission 10 Minutes

Speech by the Representative of the Republic of the Gambia 10 Minutes

Speech by Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Her Excellency, Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki 15 Minutes

DAY 1 TUESDAY 9 October 2012

3

Interlude: Light Cultural Display – 5 Minutes

Opening Address by the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara 20 Minutes

Presentation of the African Commission’s Human Rights Awards by the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara 15 Minutes

(a) Award to an African NHRI working towards the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa and the work of the African Commission

(b) Award to an African NGO working towards the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa and the work of the African Commission

Family Photo 10 Minutes

Reception 20 Minutes

12:00-13:30

ITEM 2: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA (PRIVATE SESSION)

ITEM 3: ORGANISATION OF WORK (PRIVATE SESSION)

15:00-18:00

ITEM 4: REVIEW OF 25 YEARS OF THE WORK OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION IN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS IN AFRICA (PUBLIC SESSION)

a) The relationship between the African Commission and Member States Covering issues around implementation of decisions, concluding

observations and recommendations of the African Commission; as well as State obligations to the African Commission with regard to missions and the hosting of sessions

4

Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Soyata Maiga Dr. Lirette Louw - Member States compliance with recommendations of the African Commission

Dr. Ibrahim Badawi El Sheikh - Implementation of the decisions of the African Commission by Member States

Ms. Maria Kawimbe - Considerations by Member States in the implementation of African Commission’s decisions and recommendations

Comments and discussions

Recommendations from the Session

5

Day 2 Wednesday10 October 2012

9:00 – 11:00:

ITEM 4: CONT’D

b) The relationship between the African Commission and other AU Bodies: Covering the Relationship with the African Union Commission including

administrative issues, staffing, financing and the legal obligations the AU Secretariat has towards the Commission; relationship with the Peace and Security Council, Permanent Representative Committee, The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and African Union Commission on International Law

Moderator: Hon. Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza

Justice Ben Kioko – The legal obligations the AUC has towards the African Commission Dr. Chidi Odinkalu – Relationship of the African Commission with the Peace and Security Council, Permanent Representative Committee, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and African Union Commission on International Law Professor Emmanuel Dankwa – Relationship of the African Commission with other bodies: What has worked? What hasn’t?



6

11:30-13:30

ITEM 5: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AFRICAN COMMISSION AND THE SECRETARIAT

This would be an objective discussion on the structural challenges facing the African Commission including part time Chairperson and Commissioners, legal officers assigned to Commissioners’ mandates and special mechanisms, case management, record keeping and the Commission’s Communications policy.

Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Med Kaggwa

Justice (Ms.) Salamata Sawadogo – The structural challenges in the relationship between the African Commission and the Secretariat

Maitre Germain Baricako – Point of view of a former Secretary of the African Commission



15:00-18:00

ITEM 6: COOPERATION AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION WITH ITS PARTNERS: NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (NHRIs), NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs) AND THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) (PUBLIC SESSION)

a) The relationship between the African Commission and its Partners

Covering the NGO Forum, CSO and NHRI participation in the open sessions and at national level missions. The presentations will also cover engagement with Commissioners and the Special Mechanisms, as well as their role in developing the Commission’s jurisprudence by bringing cases

7

to the Commission. This session will also highlight the role of the UN in the work of the African Commission since its inception.

Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou

Mr. Ahmed Motala – Collaboration between the African Commission and the UN

NANHRI (Mr. Gilbert Sebihogo) – Participation of NHRIs in the work of the African Commission

Ambassador Mohamed Kamel Rezag Bara – The African Commission and civil society relations

Mr. Musa Gassama – Participation of civil society in the work of the African Commission Ms. Hannah Forster – Relationship between the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies and the African Commission



8

DAY 3 THURSDAY 11 October 2012

9:00 – 10:00

ITEM 6: COOPERATION AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION WITH ITS PARTNERS

b) Consideration of Applications for Observer Status from NGOs

10:30-13:30

ITEM 7: SPECIAL SESSION ON THE JURISPRUDENCE OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION

This will cover decisions, reasonings and contradictions of the cases the Commission has considered over the last 25 years. Experts with extensive knowledge and understanding of the jurisprudence of the African Commission will present on the admissibility of cases, the reasoning of the Commission in its decisions, and the influence of the jurisprudence of other regional human rights mechanisms on the work of the African Commission.

Moderator: Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel

Prof. Alain Didier Olinga – The Protection of Individual Rights by the African Commission through the borrowing of jurisprudence from the European and Inter-American Systems

Dr. Ibrahima Kane – The review of the jurisprudence of the African Commission on admissibility of individual communications

9

Ms. Meskerem Geset – The methods of interpretation of the provisions of the African Charter by the African Commission

Professor Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen – What can the African Human Rights System learn from the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in terms of interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights

Professor Dina Shelton – Lessons from the Inter-American system of human rights on the interpretation and implementation of a regional human rights treaty

Comments and Discussions


15:00-18:00

ITEM 8: CONSIDERATION OF STATE REPORTS (PUBLIC SESSION)

a) Status of Submission of State Party Reportsb) Consideration of the:

i. Periodic Report of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

10

DAY 4FRIDAY 12 October 2012

9:00 – 10:30

ITEM 8: CONT’D CONSIDERATION OF STATE REPORTS (PUBLIC SESSION)

11:00 – 13:30

ITEM 9: REPORTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION AND SPECIAL MECHANISMS ON 25 YEARS OF THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA (PUBLIC SESSION)

a) Presentation of the Activity Reports of Special Mechanisms of the African Commission:

i. Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa

ii. Chairperson of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities



11

DAY 5SATURDAY 13 October 2012

9:00 – 13:30

ITEM 9: CONT’D

iii. Chairperson of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa

iv. Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa

v. Chairperson of the Working Group on Communications



15:00 – 18:00

ITEM 9: CONT’D

vi. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa

vii. Chairperson of the Working Group on the Death Penalty



12

DAY 6SUNDAY 14 October 2012

15:00 – 18:00

ITEM 9: CONT’D

viii. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa

ix. Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV)

x. Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa



13

DAY 7MONDAY 15 October 2012

9:00 – 13:30

ITEM 9: CONT’D

xi. Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa

xii. Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries

xiii. Chairperson of the Working Group on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples/Communities in Africa



15:00 – 18:00

ITEM 9: CONT’D



Close of the 25th Anniversary Public Session

14

DAY 8 – 14 TUESDAY 16 - MONDAY 22 October 2012

Item 10

Consideration of: (Private Session)a) Report of the Advisory Committee on Budget and Staff matters;

b) Report of the Working Group on Communications

c) Draft Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa

d) Report on the Working Group on Freedom of Assembly

e) Draft Model Law on Access to Information

f) Draft General Comments on Article 14(1)(d) and (e) of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa

g) Analysis of Article 56(5) of African Charters

Item 11: Consideration and Adoption of Draft Reports of: (Private Session)

a) WGIP’s follow-up Mission to the Central African Republic

b) Special Mission to the Saharawi Democratic Republic

Item 12: Consideration of Communications: (Private Session)

Item 13: Report of the Executive Secretary: (Private Session)

Item 14: Consideration and Adoption of (Private Session)

a) Recommendations, Resolutions and Decisions

b) Concluding Observations of Republic of Burundi

c) Concluding Observations of Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

Item 15: Dates and Venue of the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ACHPR (Private Session)

Item 16: Any Other Business (Private Session)

15

Item 17: Adoption of: (Private Session)

a) 52nd Ordinary Session Report

b) Final Communiqué of the 52nd Ordinary Session

Item 18: Reading of the Final Communiqué and Closing Ceremony (Public Session)

Item 19: Press Conference (Public Session)

16

Master in European Law) and co-Director of the Institut de Recherche en Droit International et Européen de la Sorbonne (IREDIES). Since January 2012, she has been serving as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Andorra. Prof. Burgorgue-Larsen conducts research in the areas of human rights law, comparative law and European and international law. She has edited and authored several publications including The Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Case-Law and Commentary.

Professor Emmanuel Dankwa

Prof. Dankwa is the current Chair of Securities and Exchange Commission of Ghana, and lectures part-time in the Faculty. He is also the

founder of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) at the Nigerian Bar and a member of the executive committee of the Nigerian Bar Association. While teaching in the faculty of law at the University of Ghana, Professor Dankwa joined the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights as a Commissioner and served as Vice-chair and Chair of the Commission. For part of his time at the

Mr. Germain Baricako

Mr. Baricako has over a decade of experience working as Secretary to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). He

subsequently worked as the head of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Department at the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and then as the director of the Rule of Law Section at UNAMID supporting initiatives in Darfur. He also taught Rule of Law for Judicial Affairs Officers in UN peace operations. He also was a legal adviser at the Secretariat of the AU’s predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Mr. and is a qualified lawyer from Burundi with expertise in human rights, diplomacy and mediation.

Professor Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen

Prof. Burgorgue-Larsen is a Professor of Law at the Sorbonne Law School at the University of Paris, professor in Madrid (Institute Ortega y

Gasset, Master in Law and International Relations; University Autonoma,

BIOGRAPHIES

AUTHORS1

1. Arranged alphabetically by last name.

17

Commission, he also served as Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Detention Centres in Africa. Professor Dankwa was educated at the University of Ghana; Keble College, Oxford University; and Yale Law School.

Mrs. Hannah Forster

Mrs. Forster is the Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) based in Banjul. As a

human rights and gender activist, she has extensive practical experience in the development of training and education programmes on human rights confl ict, governance, gender equality and confl ict management. Ms. Forster has published and made various presentations on civil society and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. She is a founding and a steering committee member on many national and international bodies including the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR); the African Spanish Women’s Network; the African Union/European Union Civil Society Human Rights Dialogue as well as the Chairperson of the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Gambia. She has been on a number of electoral observation missions and has been recognised as an ambassador of peace in 2001 by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace. She is also a recipient of the Women of Courage Award (2007). She

graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon; Loughborough Technical College and Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, respectively.

Mr. Musa Gassama

Mr. Gassama currently serves as the regional representative for East Africa at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for

Human Rights (UNOHCHR) and is also the liaison to the African Union (AU) and to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). He previously worked with Amnesty International in the Gambia in the 1990s and later as the programme coordinator for Amnesty International Human Rights Defenders. His areas of expertise include rule of law, human rights, development and multilateral diplomacy. A qualified lawyer of Gambian origin, he has worked there as a magistrate, a law lecturer at the Gambia Technical Training Institute, a member of Gambia Judicial Service Commission, and as head of department and editor of the Gambia Law Reporting Department. Mr. Gassama is currently pursuing Doctoral studies on management and leadership. He also holds an LLB and Degree of Utter Barrister and Bar final certificate.

18

rights; and the pursuit of justice through regional and international mechanisms. Dr. Kane has collaborated very closely with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union Commission and is an author of a number reports on AU institutions and the protection of human rights by Regional Economic Communities. He was also an associate lecturer at the Law Faculty of the University of Essex from to 2011.

Ms. Maria Kawimbe

Ms. Kawimbe is currently serving as the Director of the governance department in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Zambia.

She has vast experience working on human rights and was responsible for coordinating the preparation of all state reports submitted to the various human rights treaty bodies between 2004 and 2010. Ms. Kawimbe has worked in the Ministry of Justice serving under different capacities in the Ministry such as the directorate of public prosecutions, civil litigation department and the international law and agreements department. She holds a Law degree from the University of Zambia and a master’s degree in international law and human rights from the University of Lund Sweden (Raoul Wallenberg Institute).

Ms. Meskerem Geset

Ms. Geset is the Deputy Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA). She holds LLB and LLM

degrees. She is an attorney/advocate of the Federal Courts of Ethiopia and a former university lecturer. Previously, she also served as a high court judge in Ethiopian. Ms. Geset has also been extensively involved in human rights work in Ethiopia partnering with various CSOs and international organisations.

Dr. Ibrahima Kane

Dr. Kane heads the Africa Union Advocacy Programme at the Open Society InstituteFoundations (OSF). Dr. Kane is

qualified as a lawyer in Senegal and France. Prior to joining the Open Society Foundations, he was a senior lawyer in charge of the Africa Programme at INTERIGHTS. A founding member of RADDHO, Dr. Kane directed a human rights programme that focused on public education and women’s human rights in five West African countries—Cape Verde, Republic of Guinea, Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal. He has particular interest in economic, social, and cultural rights; women’s

19

Justice Ben Kioko

Justice Kioko is currently a judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. During his professional career, he has acquired

extensive legal experience and expertise working with African Union bodies and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including EAC, ECCAS, IGAD, SADC, COMESA, ECOWAS and CENSAD. He is an International Law Expert with a specialisation in human rights. He was Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission (AUC) for several years and as chief legal adviser of the AUC, he was instrumental in the development of, and has been fully involved in the transformation of the OAU to the AU, and in the conceptualisation, drafting and negotiation of the legal instruments adopted under the aegis of the OAU/AU.

Dr. Lirette Louw

Dr. Louw is the legal adviser to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans in South Africa. She holds an LLB and a LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation, as well as a Doctorate in law. She has written extensively and in particular on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Her publication is entitled “An analysis of state compliance with the recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights”.

Mr. Ahmed Motala

Mr. Motala is a South African human rights lawyer and activist, currently serving as the human rights officer at the Office of the High

Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. He previously worked as a human rights lawyer in South Africa, headed the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, and was also a legal adviser at Amnesty International in London. Mr. Motala has extensively written on the African human rights system.

Dr. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

Dr. Odinkalu is the Chairperson of the governing council of the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria. He is also

the senior legal officer for the Africa Programme of the Open Society Justice Initiative, based in Abuja. Dr. Odinkalu a lawyer and advocate, holds a Ph.D. in law. Prior to this, he was the senior legal officer responsible for Africa and Middle East at the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS) based in the UK. He previously was the human rights advisor to the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone, and Brandeis International Fellow at the Centre for Ethics, Justice and Public Life of

20

the Brandeis University. He serves on various boards and committees and has been a pioneer and pioneer of several institutions on the continent.

Professor Alain Didier Olinga

Prof. Olinga is an academician and professor of law. He currently lectures at the University of Yaounde’s Department of Public

Law and at the Institut des Relations Internationales du Cameroun (IRIC). He has vast experience in international law and public law, and has published widely on constitutionalism, human rights, environmental law and public law. He has participated in the African Commission activities as part of the Cameroonian delegation to the commission’s session and as a member of the working group of the Commission on economic, social and cultural rights.

Maitre Kamel Rezag-Bara

Maitre Rezag-Bara is currently an Adviser to the President of the Republic of Algeria. He is the founding member and former permanent

secretary of the Algerian Human Rights League. Maitre Rezag-Bara previously worked on the permanent forum of the Arabo-African dialogue on democracy and human rights. From 1995 to 2008, Maitre Bara was member and later Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.

Justice Salamata Sawadogo

Justice Sawadogo is currently serving as the Minister of Justice in Burkina Faso. She is an accomplished Judge who has served her country

in different capacities including as Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and the Gambia. She also involved herself in the protection of women’s rights as a member and Chairperson of the Association of Women Lawyers of Burkina Faso. She was elected as a Commissioner to the African Commission of Human and People’s rights (ACHPR) in 2001 and became the first woman to be elected as a Chairperson in 2003. During her tenure she advocated for the advancement of Women’s rights.

Mr. Gilbert Sebihogo

Mr. Sebihogo is the Executive Director of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI). He has previously

worked as an independent consultant with the Global Fund, GTZ Kigali office, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Justice in Rwanda. Prior to that, Mr. Sebihogo worked as the prosecutor general of the Court of appeal of Kigali prosecuting international crimes. He is also a visiting lecturer at the Kigali Independent University,

21

teaching comparative law and international humanitarian law. He holds a law degree from the National University of Rwanda and a Masters in Public International Law.

Dr. Ibrahim A. Badawi El Sheikh

Dr. Badawi is a former member of and Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). He

previously served as Vice-Chairperson and with the Commission of Experts elected by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit to supervise the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He also served as a member of the executive committee and the governing council of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) in the Gambia. In addition, Dr. Badawi served as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. He holds two PhDs in Political Science and Public Law; an MA in Political Science and Government and a LLM; a BA in Political Science and an LLB; as well as a Diploma in International Relations.

Professor Dinah Shelton

Prof. Shelton is the Manatt/Ahn Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School. She joined

the faculty in 2004 after serving as Professor of International Law and Director of the Doctoral Programme in International Human Rights Law at the University of Notre Dame Law School. From 1987 to 1989, Prof. Shelton was the Director of the Office of Staff Attorneys at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She is the author of three prize-winning books: Protecting Human Rights in the Americas, Remedies in International Human Rights Law, and the three-volume Encyclopaedia of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity. In 2006, Professor Shelton was awarded the prestigious Elizabeth Haub Prize in Environmental Law. Professor Shelton is the first woman nominated by the United States to become a member of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of American States.

22

2. Arranged chronologically.

FORMER CHAIRPERSONS2

The Late Professor Isaac Nguema

The late Professor Nguema served as a member of the African Commission from 1987 to 2001. Serving three terms, he was the first

and longest serving Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He was a professor of Legal Anthropology at the Faculty of Law of the University of Gabon. He also served as a member of the Constitutional Court and was one time Minister in the Government of Gabon. The Late Professor advocated for the independence of the members of the African Commission, the participation of women in its activities and contributed to almost all the issues of the African review on Human Rights and the Bulletin of the African Commission. In November 2001, the African Commission named Professor Nguema as the honorary chairperson of the Commission before he passed away in December 2002.

Professor U. Oji Umozurike

Prof. Umozurike is currently serving his second term as Commissioner at the International Commission of Jurists.

He is Professor of Law at the Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. Since 1995, Professor Umozurike served as a member of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission. He was a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights from 1989 to 1996 and served as Chairperson from 1989 to 1991. Professor Umozurike has taught at many institutions including the University of Pretoria in South Africa and the University of Lund in Sweden. He was a Research Professor at the Max-Planck Institute of Law and is a Barrister-at-law at Lincoln’s Inn, London. Professor Umozurike holds a D. Phil, LLM and LLB.

Dr. Ibrahim A. Badawi El Sheikh (please refer to his profile under authors).

23

Justice Youssoupha Ndiaye

Justice Ndiaye provided a distinguished service in the Senegalese Judiciary as the first President of the Cour de cassation from 1992-1993 and

then as the President of the Conseil Constitutionnel from 1993-2003. He was also the President of the Court of Appeal in Dakar. He left the judiciary to continue a political career as a Minister of State in charge of Sport. He became a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 1987 and served two terms until 1999. He was Chairperson of the Commission from 1997-1999. He serves as a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport of the International Olympic Committee and on various Committees. Until last year, he was the Chairperson of the Keba Mbaye Foundation and continues to sit on committees of the Foundation.

Professor Emmanuel Dankwa (please refer to his profile under authors).

Maitre Kamel Rezag-Bara (please refer to his profile under authors).

Justice Salamata Sawadogo (please refer to her profile under authors).

Justice Sanji Mmasenono Monageng

Justice Monageng is a judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prior to this, served as Supreme Court Judge in the

Gambia and a High Court judge in the Kingdom of Swaziland before joining the International Criminal Court as a commonwealth expert. During this time, she was also a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its Chairperson. Justice Monageng is an expert in women’s human rights issues, indigenous peoples, rights against torture and the rights of children. She is a member of several international organisations including the International Association of Women Judges, International Commission of Jurists and the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law.

Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou (please refer to her profile under current Commissioners).

24

FORMER SECRETARIES

Justice Jean Mutsinzi

Justice Mutsinzi is a former Secretary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’

Rights from 1989-1994. In 2006, he was elected Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He served as President of the Court for a term of two years from September 2008. Before his election as Judge of the African Court, Justice Mutsinzi was a Judge at the Supreme Court of Rwanda (2003-2008). He served as the President of the Supreme Court and President of the Superior Council of the Judiciary of Rwanda. He also served as the Executive Secretary of the Rwandan Constitutional Commission in charge of drafting the new National Constitution (2001-2003) and the President of the Investigating Committee of Independent Experts on the Downing of the President Habyarimana’s Plane on 6 April 1994. Justice Mutsinzi holds a Doctorate degree in Law. He also holds of a preparatory Law Degree for the Doctorate Degree in Law and holds several post-doctorate qualifications.

Mr. Germain Baricako (please refer to his profile under authors).

25

CURRENT COMMISSIONERS3

3. Arranged alphabetically by last name.

Commissioner Catherine Dupe Atoki

Commissioner Atoki is the current Chairperson of the Commission as well as the Chairperson for the Committee for the Prevention of

Torture in Africa, ChairpersonShe is also responsible for the promotion of human rights in Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, Egypt and the Gambia. Commissioner Atoki has been in private legal practice since 1978. She has served the African Union in diverse capacities including as a legal consultant in the drafting of legal instruments; a member of election monitoring/observer teams to several African countries; and currently as a member of the Commission. She has delivered several papers in and out of Africa on diverse human rights themes and maintains a column titled The African Torture Watch, of This Day newspaper in Nigeria. She is a legal practitioner by profession and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor

Commissioner Asuagbor is the Chairperson of the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at

risk, vulnerable to and affected by HIV in Africa. She is member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa and is responsible for the promotion of human rights in Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Malawi. Commissioner Asuagbor is the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal in the South West Region of Buea, Cameroon. She holds a Bachelor of Law degree and a Masters in International Law. Commissioner Asuagbor has had a long professional career in the magistracy, serving the government of Cameroon in various capacities, including as State counsel and Vice President of the Court of appeal Court. She is a keen human rights activist and is affiliated to numerous organisations engaged in the promotion of human rights.

26

Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou

Commissioner Gansou is the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, a member of the Committee on the Rights of People Living

with HIV (PLHIV), people at risk of and affected by HIV and a member of the Working Group on the Elderly and Disabled. As commissioner, she also served as Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. She has been a member of the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration and has served as member of the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry on the 2011 post-electoral violence in Côte d'Ivoire. Commissioner Gansou has been lecturing Law at the Université d'Abomey-Calavi of Benin since 2000. She is a registered arbitrator with various professional associations in Benin and served as Chairperson of the technical committee for the preparation of statutes and internal regulations of the Conciliation, Arbitration and Mediation Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin. Commissioner Gansou holds a doctorate’s degree in common law and in law and environmental policy. She is author and co-author of several scientific publications in Law and Human Rights.

Commissioner Med Kaggwa

Commissioner Kaggwa is the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, a member of the Committee for the

Prevention of Torture in Africa, and member of the Working Group on Death Penalty in Africa. He is responsible for the promotion of human rights in South Africa, Botswana, Eritrea, Somalia, and Zambia. Commissioner Kaggwa is the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission and holds an LL.M, LL.B and a diploma in legal practice. He is also a law lecturer at the Law Development Centre and a member of Member East African Legislative Assembly. Commissioner Kaggwa has had a long standing professional career serving the government of Uganda in various capacities including with the national parliament.

Commissioner Sylvie Zainabo Kayitesi

Commissioner Kayitesi is the Vice Chairperson of the Commission, Chairperson of the Working Group on the Death Penalty in Africa,

Chairperson of the Working Group on Communications and is responsible for the promotion of human rights in Burundi, Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Djibouti and Gabon. She is the Deputy

27

Chief Justice of Rwanda and holds a degree in law. Commissioner Sylvie has a long standing professional career serving the government of Rwanda in various capacities including as the Minister for Public Services and Labour, Minister of State in the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Environment and as the Chairperson of the Rwanda Human Rights Commission. She has also served as a member of the steering committee of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, Vice Chairperson of the Association of National Human Rights Institutions for French Speaking Countries and Chairperson of the Association of East African National Human Rights Institutions.

Commissioner Mohammed Bechir Khalfallah

Commissioner Khalfallah is the Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. He holds a degree in business

management and administration, political studies, in the social science of work, in rural law and agricultural economy. Commissioner Khalfallah was a militant for the independence of his country (since 1952) and, in that connection, he received the award of Officer and later of Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Tunisia. From 2005 to March 2011, he was Senator representing Tunisians

living abroad. He is the Chairperson and founder of a number of civil society institutions including the African League of Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Council of the North African Community in Europe and the Organisation of African and Arab Communities in Europe.

Commissioner Soyata Maiga

Barrister Maiga is the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Indigenous

Populations/Communities in Africa, a member of the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and people at risk of and affected by HIV in Africa, and Member of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. She is the Commissioner in charge of the promotion and protection of human rights in Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Niger, Libya and Equatorial Guinea. Commissioner Maiga served as a magistrate in her country for 15 years and is a member of the Malian Bar. She has held several distinguished positions including as President of the Court, President of the Civil Rights and Naturalisation Section and President of the Indictment Division at the Court of Appeal of Mali. She is a member of the National Human Rights Commission and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of Mali. Commissioner Maiga

28

holds a Masters Degree in Private Law as well as a degree from the School of Magistrates of Paris, International Section.

Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza

Commissioner Manirakiza is the Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and

Human Rights Violations in Africa, a member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa and is responsible for the promotion of human rights in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau and Benin. He holds PhD in international criminal law, an honours law degree and a certificate for human rights teaching and research at university level. Commissioner Manirakiza is an associate professor at the Faculty of Law (Common Law Section), University of Ottawa. He is also a member of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, affiliated with the same university, and previously served as a member of and a faculty advisor for the editorial board of the Ottawa Law Review. He is currently a regular visiting professor at two universities in Burundi. Professor Manirakiza has extensively published in the area of the international criminal justice system and Africa.

Commissioner Maya Sahli Fadel

Commissioner Fadel has been lecturing at the Faculty of Law, University of Algeria since 1981, and at the Diplomatic and

International Relations Institute (IDRI) and the National School of Magistrates (ENM) from 2000. She has been a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights since 2011 and is the Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. She is also a member of the Working Group on the Death Penalty and the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Commissioner Fadel has been a member of the Working Group and Experts on People of African Descent (special procedures) at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Geneva) since 2008. She is also a member of the High Judiciary Council (CSM) and a member of various Boards.

Commissioner Pansy Tlakula

Advocate Tlakula is the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, a member of the

Working Group on Older Persons and People with Disabilities in Africa and is responsible for the promotion of human rights in Lesotho, Mauritius,

29

Namibia, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Swaziland. In 2006, the Vaal University of Technology recognised and acknowledged the commitment of Advocate Tlakula to human rights and awarding her with an honorary doctorate in legal studies. In 2010 she was appointed chancellor of the Vaal University of Technology. Advocate Tlakula has served her country South Africa in various capacities including as a member of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and currently as the chief electoral officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Advocate Tlakula has marked major steps in protecting and promoting freedom of expression and access to information in Africa, the highlight of which is the draft model law on access to information in Africa pending adoption by the Commission, and a project aimed at decriminalising defamation and insult laws in Africa kick started in March 2012.

Commissioner Yeung Sik Yuen

Chief Justice Yuen is the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities, a member

of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations and is responsible for the promotion of human rights in Comoros, Madagascar, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe and Seychelles. He is the

Chief Justice of Mauritius and holds an LLB degree and the Université de Paris II, Panthéon (French Law). He was called to the Bar at Lincoln�s Inn in 1970 and has had a distinguished career at the State Law Office since 1972 and in the Judiciary since l976. Chief Justice Yuen has served as an expert on the former United Nations Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (Geneva) from 1998 to 2002. He is the holder of the insignia of the Grand Order of the Star and Key (G.O.S.K); Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He is also the holder of the award of the Distinguished Lawyer of the World Jurist Association. Chief Justice Yuen has been nominated to receive the Gusi Peace Prize of the Philippines in November 2012.

30

CURRENT SECRETARY

Dr. Mary Maboreke

Dr. Maboreke was appointed the Secretary to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in May 2007. She has taught law at the University of Zimbabwe and the University of Oslo for many years. She has a long history of working with women and human rights, with civil society and with CEDAW. As the head of the continental gender agenda, prior to joining the ACHPR, she spearheaded the elaboration of continental human rights standards, including the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, the 50/50 gender parity principle at the African Union Commission, as well as the Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Older persons in Africa. In addition, she worked as part of the AU Mediation Team in the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur, and also as part of the African Union’s Darfur Peace Agreement Implementation Team. Dr. Maboreke, who joined the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1998, holds a Bachelor of Law (B. Hons), Master of Philosophy of Law and a Ph.D, also in Law.

AGENDA · 2019-03-12 · Presentation of the African Commission’s Human Rights Awards by the ......

Documents

Transcript of AGENDA · 2019-03-12 · Presentation of the African Commission’s Human Rights Awards by the ......