By Executive Director, Mrs Hannah Forster
11 May, 2024
Honourable Vice Chairperson, Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie and Distinguished Commissioners Manuela; Mumford Muwandenga; and Musyimi-Ogana, of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR);
Hon. Justice Aisatou Jallow-Sey, High Court Judge, Supreme Court of The Gambia representing His Lordship, Chief Justice of the Republic of Gambia, Mr. Hassan B. Jallow
Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia, Professor Pierre Gomez
Hon. Members of the National Assembly
The Inspector General of Police of the Republic of the Gambia
Chief of Defense Staff of The Republic of The Gambia
Madame Abiola Ihowu-Ujo, Acting Secretary, ACHPR and Staff of the ACHPR Secretariat
Mr. Mohamed Mabassa Fall, Executive Committee Member, Governing Council of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) ;
Mr. Marcel Akpovo, Director, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, (UNOHCHR), Eastern Africa Regional Office (EARO)
Mr. Julien Aattakla-Ayinon, Senior Human Rights Officer, Team Leader of the Governance and Human Rights Unit, United Nations Office for West Africa and The Sahel (UNOWAS) and Mr. Malamine Tamba Human Rights Officer;
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps ;
Mr. Gilbert Sebihogo, Executive Director, Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) ;
Venerable Religious and Traditional Leaders
Dear Colleagues, Focal Points and NGO Forum Steering Committee Members;
Representatives of Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations,
Distinguished Resource Persons, Facilitators and Participants of the Forum,
Members of the Media and the Press,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All other protocols respectfully observed
Please allow me to welcome each and every one of you to the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 79th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights scheduled to run on 11th and 13th May 2024, respectively.
Your presence here from all regions of Africa and beyond is a clear manifestation of your continued dedication and commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights in our dear continent, Africa. This is particularly commendable even with the challenges connected with travel within the continent.
It is an honour to welcome and thank Hon. Justice Aisatou Jallow Sy, representing the His Lordship, Hon. Chief Justice of the Republic of The Gambia, Hon. Justice Hassan B. Jallow for gracing this occasion and for agreeing to deliver the Keynote Address.
Allow me, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen to also extend a special word of welcome to Hon. Commissioner Janet Sallah-Njie, Vice Chairperson of The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights who is in our midst today and would be making the Opening Statement. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to pay tribute to the African Commission and its leadership for the exemplary role it has played and continues to play in providing and supporting space for interaction between and among its stakeholders, particularly civil society.
We are also pleased to acknowledge the presence of Hon. Commissioner Manuela, Commissioner Muwandenga and Commissioner Musyimi-Ogana to this Forum
A very warm welcome to our partners from the UN Family, namely the UN OHCHR/EARO; UN OHCHR WARO; and UNOWAS; to all ACDHRS Governing Council Members as well as NGO Forum Steering Committee Members. With your permission, I would like to give a shout out to Mr. Julien Aattakla-Ayinon, Senior Human Rights Officer, Team Leader of the Governance and Human Rights Unit of UNOWAS who is here participating for the first time.
To all participants, facilitators and partners, coming from far and near and virtually. Soyez le Bienvenue! Welcome! Bom Dia. I do believe that our colleagues joining us online have adapted to the prevailing situation of linking up despite the odds and have not succumbed to Zoom fatigue.
Your Excellencies, distinguished participants, facilitators, ladies and gentlemen,
I know, `I am speaking for all of us when I state that although the main duty bearer for the promotion and protection of human rights are States, the promotion and protection of human rights remains a collective responsibility. Consequently, it must be promoted and protected by everybody, everywhere, every time and everyday.
It is evident that civil society has indeed not rested on its oars and have continued to play its role in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms to compliment the efforts of government and other partners.
Surely, together State and Non-State Actors can achieve a great deal more when they collaborate and support each other in this noble process.
Your Excellences, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Allow me to introduce ACDHRS particularly to those of us who are participating at the Forum for the first time. Established in 1989, ACDHRS would be celebrating 35 years this year. It was initiated by Founding Fathers – Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the 1st President of the Republic of The Gambia and only Patron); Hon Justice Hassan Jallow (first Chairman of the Governing Council); Mr. Adama Dieng (former Secretary General of ICJ, Geneva) and Dr. Nyamicheye (former Director, formerly The Centre for Human Rights, Geneva). Its founding Director was Hon. Justice Raymond Sock. We hope you will all join and support us in celebrating this milestone in the life of The Centre later this year.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Developed as an advocacy tool of ACDHRS, the main aim of the NGOs Forum is to foster closer collaboration among NGOs and with other human rights bodies, especially the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights in Africa and consolidating our various contributions to this process. Through this initiative, A good number of NGOs have been made aware of the existence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its special mechanisms and their mandates. It has also led to the engagement of many an individual and organisations to engage with the human right system. I would like to take this opportunity to urge those NGOs that have not applied for observer status with the African Commission to do so at their earliest convenience.
The agenda of the Forum, developed, as usual, through consultations with the Forum Steering Committee members, participants and partners will avail us an opportunity to review the situation of democracy and human rights on the continent and of course raise the alarm on trouble spots for action. There will be eleven panels and various special interest group discussions all aimed at developing strategies to improve the status of human rights and governance in our respective countries, and Africa in particular, bearing in mind the contexts and prevailing circumstances.
Permit me, therefore, to remind ourselves that this Forum will focus on the theme “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa”. As we are aware, it is The AU Theme of the Year, and it is only fitting that we make our contribution to this important and relevant theme. I know we can, and we will explore together this dynamic topic and come up with innovative strategies on how civil society can contribute towards the recognition of the importance of this theme.
Other highlights of the agenda include panels on
- GBV and harmful traditional practices with focus on FGM; Overcoming barriers to Education Access in Rural Africa; Civic engagement and Freedom of Assembly: promoting democratic participation in Africa and protection of Human Rights Defenders; among others.
Furthermore, there will be discussions in Special Interest Groups identified by participants.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
It is to be noted that the State Report of Mozambique will be reviewed during the 79th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in fulfillment of Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. I urge all of us to accompany the ACHPR and indeed, the said State, in this process.
Adopted resolutions and recommendations emanating from the Forum will be forwarded to the African Commission for its consideration during the 79th Ordinary Session. No doubt, this Forum would usher in the platform for fruitful deliberations, resulting in the formulation of laudable strategies.
Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Without attempting to preempt the various presentations and contributions from speakers, I must say that the existence and importance of legal frameworks that promote and protect the relevance of education in the lives of citizens cannot be overemphasized. These are enshrined specifically in various human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; the international Covenants; the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; the Maputo Protocol, Art 12; the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Art; among others.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
In conclusion, it would be remiss of me to conclude these brief opening remarks without recognising the various contributions made by our various partners, namely The Open Society Foundations (OSF) towards sponsoring some participants; The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and UN-OHCHR/WARO towards interpretation; and the UN-OHCHR/EARO towards accommodation costs of some participants. Of course, we wish to acknowledge the various organisations that have supported the participation of less privileged partner organisations and individuals. Without their support and collaboration, the organisation of this Forum would have been much more daunting than it already is.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish all of us fruitful deliberations and celebrations here and thank you all for your kind attention.
11/05/2024
