Resolution on the Role of the African Commission
We the participants at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 32nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 6th African Human Rights Book Fair, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Banjul, from October 14th –16th, 2002
Recalling the provisions of Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the functions of the African Commission to ensure the promotion and protection of Human and Peoples’ rights in Africa,
Recalling the Resolution passed by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights during its 16th Ordinary Session in Banjul on the gravity of the situation of human rights in Africa, and noting that this situation has not improved,
Conscious of the fact that Article 55 of the Charter provides a Communication Mechanism to redress violations of human rights, and that a timely response to these Communications would have save untold sorrow,
Noting with concern that internal armed conflicts in Africa leads to deaths, destruction of property and other massive violations of human and peoples’ rights, and that early signs of these conflicts are not urgently addressed,
We hereby call on the African Commission to:
Create a rapid response mechanism to intervene in cases where human and peoples’ rights are imperiled.
Expedite the resolution of all communications pending before it.
Follow up the implementation of all its decisions and Resolutions.
Done in Banjul, the Gambia 16th October 2002.
