Recommendation on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders during Electoral Period
We, the participants meeting at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights between 12th and 14th May 2007, state as follows:
Considering that the situation of human rights defenders are particularly violated during electoral periods;
Further considering that States have the obligation to fundamentally ensure the security of every person living on their territory including human rights defenders;
Noting the forthcoming elections in Togo, in Guinea, Sierra Leone, in Zimbabwe, in Angola, in Ivory Cost,
Deeply concerned that Human Rights Defenders face hostility from political protagonists according to the fact that human rights defenders position is perceived as favouring them or not as it was noticed in Togo, DRC, Nigeria,
Recommend that:
- States take necessary measures to ensure physical and moral integrity of human rights defenders in order to allow them to fully play their role of promotion and protection of human rights without fear; prior, during and post electoral periods;
- States allow human rights defenders to observe elections in their countries.
Done in Accra, May 14th, 2007
