Statement by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the ACDHRS at Official Opening of the NGO Forum of the 48th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR
Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 22nd African Human Rights Book Fair
Hon. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Republic of the Gambia,
Your Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
Distinguished Members of the NGO Forum Steering Committee,
Representatives of National and International NGOs,
Representatives of the Press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
All protocols respectfully observed
Once again, the African Human Rights Community are here gathered for another Forum on the participation of NGOs in the ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
It is a great honour, on behalf of the governing council members of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, and indeed on my own behalf, to welcome you all at the NGO Forum which is a wonderful event in the calendar of Human Rights in Africa as it is a source of information for the deliberation of the upcoming session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me, on behalf of the Center and on your behalf to express our gratitude to Government and the people of the Gambia for their hospitality, in facilitating the activities around the NGO Forum here in Gambia and to reiterate our appreciation for the continued warmth afforded since our arrival on Gambian soil.
Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Three days prior to the commencement of the ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and peoples’ Rights, the NGO Forum will discuss and deliberate on issues regarding human Rights situation in Africa and come with useful recommendations and resolutions to overcome the complexes and difficult situations facing many countries in Africa.
As you may know, the importance of non-governmental bodies for human rights in Africa cannot be overemphasized, especially in the light of current events unfolding around the continent; which the source of human rights abuses, injustice and impunity in many African countries.
Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
despite some real and positive developments registered in Africa like the increasing trend of cooperation between States and the Commission and between states and non-states actors for human rights in Africa, many efforts are yet to be done considering the many African states in which the rule of law is precarious and where corruption, lack of good governance, violation of economics, social and cultural rights are dominant, in a context of poverty, insecurity, and conflicts.
Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this context, the human rights groups like those represented here today have a very important role to play, their role is to stand independently of the government to protect and promote the rights of citizen true advocacy, campaign, education and sensitization and networking in their respective countries and within Africa.
African civil society fully represented here today can play a special role, particularly in an electoral context prevailing in Guinea, Ivory Cost and Tanzania. Next year and year after, many other African counties will engage in decisive electoral process, on which depend the reinforcement of democracy and rule of law in Africa.
Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me by concluding my statement to address all my congratulation to all of you, particularly to the NGO Forum Steering Committee, to the Executive Director of the Center on the work done to organize and to improve the NGO Forum every six months. With all those effort, I have no doubt that your deliberations during three days will be fruitful for your own work and the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Thank You for your attention.
