Resolution on the Situation of Prisons and Places of Detention in Africa
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,
Alarmed by the poor prison conditions prevailing in most African Countries,
Highlighting the importance of the agenda set up in the Kampala Declaration on Prison Conditions in Africa, 1996, to improve these conditions,
Noting with satisfaction the important practical steps that have been taken and the good practices that have been developed to implement the recommendations of this Declaration,
Recognising the significant role played by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and in particular its Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa in the improvement of standards and conditions regarding the treatment of prisoners,
Recognising the importance to move a step further into the improvement of prison conditions and the exchange of good practices on penal reform on the Continent,
Noting with appreciation the holding in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from September 18-20, 2002 under the auspices of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, of the Second Pan African Conference on Prison and Penal Reform in Africa,
Agreeing with the principles underlined in the Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on ‘Accelerating Prison and Penal Reform in Africa’,
Hereby make the following recommendations:
That the Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on ‘Accelerating Prison and Penal Reform in Africa’ be submitted to the 33rd Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and be endorsed by the Commission;
That the Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action be further submitted by the ACHPR to the African Union for endorsement;
That the work of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa be strengthened and further supported.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia 16th October 2002.
