TREC/003/10/2011: Recommendation on State Reporting to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa
We, the participants to the NGO Forum in the 50thOrdinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and 24th African Human Rights Book Fair held from 19th – 21st October, 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia
Having observed the general lack of compliance to the submission of country reports to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
Noting the commitment made by African states to the submission of country reports as stipulated in Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Further noting that guidelines to state reporting on the Protocol to the African Charter on Women’s Rights in Africa were also adopted by the African Commission during the 48th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Concerned about the lack of political will by member states to comply with the reporting requirements to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Deeply concerned about the lack of effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure member states’ compliance with the reporting requirements and subsequent follow up to ensure actual implementation of recommendations made by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’
Hereby recommend to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to:
- Strongly urge member states with outstanding reports to submit their country reports forthwith and adhere to adopted reporting guidelines;
- Reinforce the importance of compliance with Article 62 of the Charter and the reporting guidelines to the Protocol to the Charter on Women’s Rights in Africa; and
- Undertake to effectively monitor compliance of Article 62 of the African Charter and follow up on recommendations made after state reporting
Done in Banjul – 21st October, 2011
