TREC/003/4/2012: Thematic Recommendation on the Death Penalty in Africa
We the participants at the NGO Forum preceding the 51st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 25th African Human Rights Book Fair held from 14th-16 April, 2012 in Banjul, The Gambia call on the African Commission to:
- Urge all member States to initiate moratorium by avoid execution of those on death sentence.
- Request member States to take steps encourage the sensitisation, training and capacity building of their judicial officers, prosecutors and legislators on issues around the death penalty from progressive jurisdictions including the irreversibility of any erroneous decision once the sentence have been executed;
- Encourage member states to put in place mechanisms that will provide offender apology, victim-offender mediation and reconciliation, adequate compensation (including contribution from the offender) and support to victims of violent crimes including family members of those that have been killed through such crimes that attract death sanctions. These are akin to the traditional African culture and administration of justice that recognises the interest of the victim and the need to provide victim with support as well as encourage restitution and compensation from the offender.
- Request all member state to take steps towards the abolition of the death penalty and the full implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on this issue.
Done in Banjul – 16th April, 2012
