17 November 2007

Chairperson,

Honourable Commissioners,

HURISA Statement submitted to:

The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights

Open session 14-28 November 2007

Republic of Congo-Brazzaville

Honourable State Delegates

Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Honourable members of the African Commission

Item 7, Relationship with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

First, HURISA would like to commend the African Commission for the successful coordination of its sessions, particularly, this one, it was organized under very complicated circumstances. We appreciate the way the Commission turned out this situation into a smooth running session. The humility and professionalism demonstrated by the Commission in surpassing these difficulties was noted. We also believe the Commission’s inherent power to execute its functions independently, fearlessly, without favour and bias promotes accountability in the region.

The civil society benefit greatly from participation in the sessions of the African Commission. This session was attended by over 200 national human rights NGOs including international NGOs. The number of state’s party representation has also increased remarkably over the past years improving accountability on the African Charter and deepening human rights activism in the region. As usual human rights NGO agenda offer strategic interventions to the programme of the Commission and contributes to the development of policies for the improvement of human rights in the region and remain our preoccupation to strengthen the African system of human rights in the continent.

The African Commission celebrated its 20th Anniversary on the 2nd November 2007, a date which, coincided with the African Human Rights Day. Many NGOs conducted human rights initiatives at national levels to mark the significance of this era. HURISA also convened a two day event and collaborated jointly with the South African Human Rights Commission. NGOs from Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Darfur Sudan, Zimbabwe and other South African national NGOs with observer status with the African Commission attended the two day meeting. A similar event is being organised in South Africa and an invitation has been extended to the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression in Africa.

We are aware of other activities that were conducted in the region by many national NGOs with observer status with the African Commission in commemoration of the historical impetus that brought the adoption of the African system of human rights in the region. However, most NGOs had to leave early due to the budgetary constraints. In addition to that, the delay in commencing the session as previously planned by the Commission had severe cost implications on the budgets of most NGOs.

HURISA acknowledge all efforts made by the Commission to make the logistical arrangements and working programme to meet the average standards of the Commission. The organisation of these sessions are indeed of a magnitude nature and cannot be underestimated. Therefore, it is very important for the alternate host to make efforts to meet the average standards.

We therefore recommend the Secretariat of the African Commission to find ways to encourage schedule of dates way in advance, especially in the case of alternate states, to allow sufficient time for orientation, adequate preparation and coordination of the sessions. HURISA will continue finding ways of strengthening the work of the African Commission and contribute positively towards building a culture of human rights in the continent.

HURISA coordinates meetings of human rights NGOs before and after sessions of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The participants are encouraged to make use of the African system of human rights in their work, to apply for observer status with the African Commission and to participate at the Commission’s sessions. The organization has provided support to some NGO representatives to attend the African Commission sessions and assisted them obtain apply for observer status.

I thank you Chairperson for the opportunity to make this statement.

Related documents:

• NGO Forum Resolution on enforced disappearances

• NGO Forum Resolution on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa (Res. 008)

• NGO Forum Resolution on Migration and Human Rights

• NGO Forum Resolution on the exploitation of natural resources in Africa

• NGO Forum Resolution on Strengthening the Responsibility to Protect in Africa (Res: 009)

• NGO Forum Resolution on sexual violence in armed conflict

• NGO Forum Resolution on the human rights situation in Somalia

• NGO Forum Special Interest Group: prevention and prohibition of Torture in Africa

• HURISA Statement on the situation of democracy and human rights in SADC.

• Final communique of the 42nd Ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights