Resolution on the Support of the African Union to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

The NGO Forum,

Recalling the decisions taken after the consideration of the 18th and 19th annual activity reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights by the African Union which refer to the latter’s unwavering support for the initiatives taken by the Commission to carry out its mandate of promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter;

Recalling the African Union’s continued expression of its support for the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its commitment to the effectiveness of Human rights in Africa;

Considering that to achieve its objectives and to live up to its obligations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights need resources, especially financial, human and logistic wherewithal;

Taking note that the lack of resources is hindering the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in the attainment of its objectives and of the need to include in its agenda new fundamental questions pertaining to human rights emerging on the continent;

Invites the African Union to establish a system of channeling contributions in a systematic manner to the African Commission on Human and peoples’ rights to buttress its operations;

Urges Member States that are yet to settle their financial obligations to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to do so as to ensure the smooth operations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples rights;

Invites the international organisations and Africa’s international partners to support the efforts of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights;

The NGO Forum further requests the African Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Studies in its capacity as Coordinator of the Forum to:

• Convey the present resolution as an attachment to a letter to the African Union expressing the concerns of the entire NGO body participating at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs at the 39th Session of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights.

• Report on the reaction of the African Union to the above to the NGO Forum at the next session of the NGO Forum.

Done in Banjul, 8 May, 2006